I
was born in St. Marks Street (little end) as we called it, I lived
at no 35 from 1948 until 1963 when we moved to Stechford.

Some
of my friends were Keith Bailey, Stuart and Lyn Mason, Pam
Walters who lived in king Edwards Road.

Some good times had at the swimming baths or the film shows at the
Edge/The Crown/The Lyric/The Grove or round the corner at the wreck
playing football and other ball games.

My
Nan used to live in Garbett Street just up from the Beehive pub.

I
went to St. Patrick's School were I meet some good pals, John Wilson
being just one. I believe the photo on your school is with our teacher a
Miss Berry, I am there somewhere, but just can not work out who is who.

John
Moult

14th
December 2009

Memories
of John Evans

My
dad Bill was born in Nelson Street, where his Mom ran a small shop
up until it was demolished.

Dad
went to Nelson Street School and Mom went to Osler Street School.

During
the 60s and 70s Mom worked in the Tower Ballroom on the catering side
and she used to get me in to watch the wrestling, my favourites were
Cowboy Cassidy with him shooting off his guns as he came into the ring
and The Undertakers when all the lights went out and they came in
carrying a coffin with just a bell tolling, scary for a lad of about 9
or 10.

Merry
Xmas and a Happy New Year

John
Evans

Memories
of Sheila Rushworth

When
I left school I used to walk part of the way to work with Alan Hinton,
can't remember where he worked but I used to work at J W Rains Summer
Hill. If you went on to the roof you could look into the yard next door
on the other side of the canal (Rootes the car people).

Pauline
Glaze also worked at J. W. Rains, she was in my class at school and had
a younger sister Florence and an older sister, Pat. They lived in
Icknield Port Road.

Dorothy
Frazer lived next door to my Nan at No 40 Clark St and up the entry on
the other side there was a Margaret and George Hardy and their younger
brothers Freddy and John Glee.

Lower
down the Road lived a Margaret ???? opposite the house where we used to
get Faggots and Peas from up Icknield Port Road lived Ann Askey.

Can't
remember much about Christmas, don't think I ever went to Lewis's. Once
the Hyde Arms gave a party and we all got a present, I got a jigsaw,
which I hated so I swapped it with Colin Norris for a Book, I still have
the book somewhere.

My
Dad used to make most of what I got, One year I got a boat to float up
the reservoir, another year he made me a shop. I remember my Mom
collecting blue sugar bags for it, another year it was a train.

I
used to get given some money every week to pay to Powell’s, the sweet
shop; it went towards a Girl annual and a box of chocolate. I used to
collect these on Christmas morning. My dad and me shared the chocolates.
One year I got a small case to take my things to school in and I always
got six new pennies.

All
for now

Sheila
Rushworth

18th
November 2009

Memories
of Malcolm Booth

I
was born 26/09/1954 Dudley Road Hospital.

I lived 6 back of 101 Monument Road until it was pulled down and we
moved to Acocks Green.

My one nan lived in Wiggin Street, my other Nan and granddad lived in
Ingleby street (next door to the Ingleby Arms).

My mom and her 2 sisters went to St. Barnabas School, PHYLISS, OLIVE and
JANET JOHNSON. My granddads name was Birchell Johnson and my nan's name
was May.

My uncle Reg Clews had a bike shop on Monument Road as I remember.

I attended the day nursery opposite Summerfield Park until I was of
school age; I then attended St. Georges in Plough and Harrow Road until
I was 7-8 years old.

My mom and dad were married in the Oratory (St. Phillips) his name was
Arthur Booth my mom was Olive Johnson.

My friends in the yard in Monument Road were Phillip Mooney and George
Payne. I would especially like to find Georgie Payne, the family moved
to St. Vincent’s Street when it was all pulled down, about where
Hickman’s the green grocers moved to.

Our next-door neighbour was Miss Bamford in the yard next to her was a
deaf man Mr. Clewitt.

There were a lot of large families in our yard, the Payens, Mooney’s,
Morris.

As a footnote I married a girl called Ann Walters from Halesowen, it
happens her father was raised in Ladywood as well, they had a sweet shop
in St. Marks Street. Here dads name is John Walters, his father was
quite a famous runner FRED WALTERS, he drove a taxi.

My memories are very clear of my time there, Miss Bamford moved to Bath
Passage at the side of the baths. When it was pulled down and then they
rehoused her in Rodney Close. My nan and granddad were rehoused in Wells
Tower from Ingleby Street, and are buried in Warstone Lane cemetery.

Miss Bamford (my auntie Nelly) as we called her died at the age of 99
many years ago and was my moms best pal so to speak (like a mom to her).

She
worked at Lucas in Gt. Hampton Street, and I used to go to the xmas
party’s there with her. She never married as the man she was to wed
was an officer in the first world war and was killed there as so many
were.

I
used to listen to her reminisces as it was so much like a history book,
she told me she saw Queen Victoria by the Mint in her carriage, and
the horses were watered by where she was standing (about 1890 odd)?? but
am not to sure of the dates.

Best Regards

Malcolm Booth

29th
October 2009

Memories
of Doris Simpson, nee Evans

MY
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

By
Doris Simpson

I
think one of the earliest memories I can recall goes back to the time
when having reached my fifth birthday I was taken by my mother to attend
'Nelson Street Infant School, Ladywood, Birmingham 'for the very first
time. I remember it vividly and all kinds of little things come rushing
back to me as I sit and think of those long bygone days in 1933.

First
of all the headmistress took me along to Class 1, where I was introduced
to my teacher named Miss Stevens. She was a very pleasant dark haired
lady who soon put me at ease. After settling in with all the other new
boys and girls, our names were called out off the register which was
done each morning, I believe there were about 35 pupils in our class.We did not have desks in this class but there were small wooden
tables where 4 or 5 pupils were seated to each one. At ten o 'clock it
was break time or as we used to say 'play time'. I was thrilled to bits
when the teacher asked another girl and I to lay the tiny tables.We were given orange floral cotton tablecloths to put on each
one, upon which we then placed small white enamel plates for the boys
and girls to put their biscuits or sandwiches on. Alternatively you
could buy chocolate malted milk biscuits for 1/2d
off the teacher.These
being very popular because they contained a photograph of a well-known
film star of that era such as 'Norma Shearer’ 'Clark Gable’ 'Robert
Taylor’ 'Ann Sheridan' etc. As time went on I built up quite a good
collection and would swap with other girls the various ones of which I
had two the same for a different film star which they had, it was quite
good fun.We also had small
mugs of really delicious Horlicks, each one painted with nursery rhymes.
Each Monday Miss Stevens would collect 21/2d off
each pupil for these drinks, what wonderful happy days they were.

As
time passed I went into Class 2 and my teacher at this time was Miss
Cutler. I can see her now, she always seemed to wear brown on most
occasions, her hair was always combed neatly into one long curl which
went all the way round from one side of her head to the other and when
she walked along it used to bob up and down, at the time it used to
fascinate me. She was very nice and helpful if you did not understand
any of the lessons she would sit very patiently with you and explain
everything.

Eventually
I went into the last class in the infants, my teacher there was Miss
Girdlestone, she was a real shocker, such a nasty temper, she used to
shout and get very angry if you did not pay attention. By this time the
mugs of Horlicks were replaced by small 1/3 pint bottles of milk, which
we had each morning. Of course not everyone had these because some of
the pupils parents were very poor, there were cases of real poverty with
some of the families and of course there was no family allowances or
much help to be obtained in those days.The only help I remember was some of the very poor girls and boys
were given shoes and socks from the 'Daily Mail', they were very ugly
looking big black shoes and thick black socks, the same style for both
boys and girls.Then of
course some of the other children could be very cruel and used to make
fun of them.

Speaking
for myself I had a wonderful father and mother and was looked after very
well I did not want for anything, I had two brothers, we were always a
very happy family. My father worked very hard seven days a week for a
refrigeration company near St Martins Church in the 'Bull Ring' in the
centre of Birmingham. As far as I can remember he was never late for
work, always liked to be punctual and his boots had to be blacked every
day, if ever I cleaned them for him he would give me a Id which in them
days would buy me quite a few sweets. I could get 1/2d
worth of pear drops -which 1 enjoyed, also 1/2dsnow fruit ice cream, which I bought from a man who came round
the various streets on his bike and trolley painted blue with Walls' ice
cream written in big white letters across the front, with all the prices
displayed too, he was very friendly, all the children liked him and
called him Paddy.

We
always had a weeks holiday each year, the family would travel by GWR
from 'Snow Hill' station to Bournemouth, it used to be so exciting,
especially when after five hours travelling we would reach our
destination and after enjoying a lovely meal at the guest house where we
used to stay, would go for a walk up Meridan Road and catch our first
glimpse of the sea, before we descended down the zig-zag path which was
cut out of the cliffs and very steep.We used to walk down but on the return trip sometimes took the
cliff railway, which I believe cost 3d and seemed really thrilling at
the time.We would
spend most of our time on the lovely golden beach, which stretched for
miles and miles, I used to love swimming.Then in the evenings we used to have a ride on the green bus to
places like 'Poole Harbour', 'Christchurch', 'Hensbury Head' and various
little places of interest.

The
reason I speak of this green bus was the fact it was so different to the
buses back home, we sat upstairs, the whole family could sit on one seat
which held 4 or 5 people and as a child I thought it was really exciting
sitting with my mother, father and brothers.Then there was one special evening we set aside to visit my aunt
and uncle who lived in Bournemouth, who made us all very welcome but we
had to be on our best behaviour, as they had no children of their own,
everything was immaculate, nothing out of place and of course my brother
and I used to like to roam around a little from room to room being a
little inquisitive, which I don't think my aunt appreciated at the time.
Anyway we all enjoyed our summer holiday and when it came to Saturday we
were all sorry to return to Birmingham. I remember when gradually, as we
drew into the station out of the long tunnel at 'Snow Hill’ everywhere
looked so dirty and gloomy, what a contrast to all that wonderful
scenery and clean fresh air of Bournemouth.We used to take a taxi home and finish our holiday in style,
which used to cost 2/6d as I recall, we lived quite near, about ten
minutes ride.

We
were quite happy when we all settled into our routine again, after all
there is no place quite like home and I was anxious to see all my
friends whom I used to bring sticks of rock for and tell them all my
adventures and things we had been doing for the past week. I also had to
visit my two aunties and granddad who lived near us and take them a
little gift. I used to love them all very much they always meant a lot
to me, I was at their house quite a lot and they would take me out to
visit friends and sometimes shopping. On one occasion my aunt Ada took
me into town, which was a short distance by tram, we looked around
various shops then visited the old 'market hall' which everyone used to
enjoy, there was so much you could buy there, sometimes I would be
treated to a 'Shirley Temple' book or a doll I also enjoyed seeing all
the kittens and puppies in the pet shop but felt sorry because they were
all shut up in cages waiting for some kind person to come along and buy
them. I would have bought all of them if I had my way, that's what I
thought at the time.We
already had a dog and cat at home, we were never without pets.
Afterwards we would go to 'Lewis’ or 'Greys' which were large
department stores and have afternoon tea in their very elegant
restaurant.The waitress
would suddenly appear dressed immaculate in her black dress, white cap
and apron, her order pad and pencil tied at the side of her waist. My
aunt would order tea and fancy cakes for two. After a few minutes our
order would be brought all on a silver tray, which was very enjoyable.

Afterwards
we would make our way across town to 'Edmund Street' and catch the tram
back home. My aunt Mirry also used to take me out at weekends to see her
friends who lived at 'Shirley' and 'Yardley'. I always came home with
sweets and pocket money, which they so kindly gave me and I thought it
was great. I was also taken on Saturday afternoon to the cemetery at
Warstone Lane, Hockley, which was in the well known jewellery quarter,
my grandmother was buried there, I never had the pleasure of knowing her
because I was only two years old when she died but was told she made a
great fuss of me.We also
put chrysanths on the grave, the large bloom type, bronze, mauve and
white. I remember they would be bought from the local florist on Fridays
and there would be a lovely smell when you walked from the living room
into the hall, where they were kept in the cool ready for Saturday.
After we arrived back from the cemetery I used to have my tea with
granddad and my aunties, I was given the toasting fork to do some
pikelets by the big roaring open coal fire, it was all so cosy, we all
enjoyed it. My mother used to get a little annoyed when she used to come
to fetch me for my tea; of course she only lived a few yards away and
found I was not hungry because I had already eaten. On other occasions
my mother would take me shopping to Hockley, there was a well known shop
called 'Rees & Felix' where she used to buy sheets and pillow cases
etc., then along Monument Road there were dozens of shops of every
description where you could buy almost everything you required, much
better than all of these supermarkets and large DIY superstores which we
have these days.Then
nearer home on the 'Parade \ which was another little shopping centre, I
remember there was a baby shop called Stockhalls, a nice friendly lady
used to serve there, 'a bit old maidish' as we used to say in those days
but very pleasant. She had very short hair with a large hairgrip to keep
it out of her eyes.There
was also ‘The Stocking Shop’ the butcher, 'Keys' the herbalists, 'Devotis'
sweet shop, 'Baines' the cake shop and also 'Pittaways' the coach firm
from which we went on many an enjoyable day out into the country or by
the sea.

By
this time I was growing up a little. I went into the juniors at school I
used to go home for my lunch at 12.00 each day, which was only a few
minutes away. Mom always had a nice cooked meal and pudding waiting for
me, she used to work very hard especially on Mondays when she did the
large family wash. It used to seem rather hectic, no washing machines in
them days.There was the old washtub and wringer in the 'wash house'
outside and there the old copper boiler would have to be filled with
water and then the fire underneath would have to be lit before you could
put the clothes in to boil. I must say the washing came out really clean
and glowing.When
eventually all the clothes were dry, there used to be a big pile of
ironing to be done with the old black irons which had to be put on the
gas stove.When the one you
were using went cold you got another one from the cooker. It was really
hard work and yet people seemed much happier in them days and neighbours
always had time for each other and were always there if you needed them.

Anyway
at 2 o 'clock it was back to school. My teacher was Miss Long, a very
stern looking woman hardly every smiled. I always remember she wore a
long sleeved paisley pinafore and pink rimmed spectacles. She rapped my
knuckles with the ruler on one occasion for talking to a girl called
'Barbara Bridgewater ', who always seemed to be getting me into trouble
when it was not my fault.The
head teacher, Miss Malcolm, was never one of my favourites either, she
was a very large lady, the crepe dresses which she wore seemed to touch
the ground, they were so long. She was very strict with everyone, not
many children liked her.We
were all pleased when the bell went at 4.30pm, we would sometimes dash
over the road to the little sweet shop and maybe have a 1/2d
trebor fruit or a traffic light lollipop, then off home. Mom would
sometimes make me a snack, which was a lovely crust off a cottage loaf
spread with thick butter and treacle, then off for a game with all my
friends. I used to have my meal with the family at 5.30 but before that
I would go to see my granddad and get his tea ready for him first, we
were all such a close family. After tea I sometimes played on the
railway steps up the street with my friends, there seemed to be crowds
of us, Olive, who was my best friend, we also went to visit the stables,
where the funeral horses were kept, no cars in them days. I used to give
'Major' a carrot he was a bit wild looking, he used to try and bite the
stable door away, there was a big piece missing where he had gnawed it
away.

Sunday
morning I would sometimes go for a walk into town with all my friends,
it only took about 20 minutes, we would have a paddle in the fountain,
then a walk by the 'Hall of Memory’, call in the little shop by 'The
Church of Messiah' in Broad Street then back home for lunch. At 3 o
'clock I went to St Mark's Sunday School, I also won a couple of prizes
there too for various things. In the evening my father used to take the
family for a bus ride, into the country or to the park when the light
nights were here. Before setting out of the house, my mother sometimes
got a little agitated owing to my father lighting his pipe. He would mix
his 'sweet crop} tobacco with the 'walnut plug' round and round in the
palm of his hand before putting it into the pipe and lighting it up.He would only smile though, he was a very pleasant easy going man
who we all thought the world of. Dad used to work very hard and worked
three shifts, 6-2, 2-10 and 10-6.I used to lie in bed at night and sometimes heard him
coming up the path at 10.30pm, his great heavy boots making such a noise
but I used to feel so happy that he was home. He used to hang his coat
up on the hook by the stairs and I used to call down to him, he would
say 'aren't you asleep yet' and come up and see me. In the winter he
would take my brothers and I to bed and before we got between the sheets
he would warm them with the large copper warming pan, which used to hang
downstairs. It was sheer luxury. I also remember when one of us were
poorly, my mother would fuss us up and give us the best attention anyone
could have.

We
were lucky really, in the week we were taken out on different occasions
either to the 'Hippodrome’ or 'Empire Theatre' in town in the 6d
seats, which were in the 'Gods'.On
the way home we used to call in a little shop and have a meat pie, which
was near the 'White Horse 'public house, we thought it was a real treat.Other times we would go to the 'Lyric' or 'Crown' cinema.On Saturday afternoon I used to take my young brother to the
'Saturday Crush' at the cinema, for 2d we would see two full length
films plus 'Flash Gordon’ it was very noisy in there but we all
enjoyed ourselves.

By
now my eldest brother Fred was in the Air Force, the 1939 war was now
on, he was eight years older than me and my other brother five years
younger. I used to take him with me quite a lot, we would go roller
skating, ice skating, swimming etc. Sunday afternoon I used to go to
chapel with my aunt to Balsall Heath, we would travel on two buses to
get there. I used to enjoy meeting all the children and we would go on
coach trips to places such as 'Church Stretton'. Bars of 'Cadburys' choc
would be given out to all of us on the way and we would sit by the lake
when we got there and eat our packed lunches. Afterwards we would play
games and would really enjoy ourselves.Other things that stand out in my memory was the time we had 'Mr
Duck the milkman' come round to the door, with fresh milk from the big
churn, on his horse and float. He would ladle a pint out or whatever you
required into your large jug, it was a real lovely fresh taste. Then on
Friday evenings most of the factories would close at 6 o 'clock, the
hooters and whistles would blow and all the people would come rushing
out with happy faces having received their pay packets for working hard
all the week and looking forward to going out to enjoy themselves at the
weekend. Most of them lived locally and some would call into the 'pork
shop' called 'Mellors' and buy piping hot 'faggots and peas', cooked
meats and all kinds of mouth-watering food. It used to smell wonderful.
Saturday used to be very busy too.

There
was a coal yard down the street called 'Brians' and people used to fetch
their own coal in little four wheeled trucks, sometimes only 1/4 cwt at
each time, they could not afford any more, the trucks were hired from
the yard.We used to have
our coal delivered each week, you could hear the man tipping it down the
cellar. It was real hard work going down the cellar steps for coal to
keep the fire going all day.On
Fridays we would have baths in front of a nice big fire in the long tin
bath that used to hang outside. It was normal practice as not many
people had bathrooms in those days. Alternatively you could go to
Monument Road washing baths and take a bath for 6d, which would include
soap and towel Sometimes I would go to the library at 'Spring Hill' with
my auntie, then to the 'Corn Shop' to buy chicken feed, as she used to
keep chickens, it was lovely to have new laid eggs. We would then go in
the 'Co-op' to buy a few groceries, you could take a seat while you were
waiting to be served, then the assistant would put your money into a
gold tube, which would be screwed onto a wire which would glide across
the room to the cash desk for payment, the assistant would then send
your change back to you, a lot of interesting things went on around you
in those days, it was all so carefree and enjoyable.

By
now I was going to senior school at 'Camden Street' Brookfield’s, I
used to enjoy doing cookery and various other subjects and sometimes we
had country dancing. Our school won an award for collecting the most
'National Savings' towards the war effort.We bought a 'barrage balloon’ and our class had the thrill of
actually seeing it released up into the air on waste ground near Dudley
Road Hospital I used to take money each week for these certificates off
my uncle at the shop near where we lived, also my aunt who worked on
munitions at Lucas. She used to earn very good wages, which she worked
very hard for.

While
at Brookfield Senior School I had to take home a letter to be signed for
permission to be inoculated, my father wrote a reply and gave it to me
to take back to school. The headmistress, Miss Bricknell, sent for
me and said did I know what was in the letter from my father and I said
no I had not read it. It was a very rude letter she said and gave
it to me to read and this is what it said:-

"Dear
Miss Bricknell,

I
do not want my daughter, Doris May Evans, to be either vaccinated,
inoculated or evacuated but educated.

Yours
sincerely

P
J Evans"

Miss
Bricknell wanted my father to go and see her, which he did and I think
they smoothed it over, when she could see he was not the sort of rude
man she thought he was.

Eventually
we were having air raids in 1940 but the more heavy ones started in
1941.We had to go in the
shelter in the garden every night and take our cases filled with our
best clothes.The
sirens would sound and we would go running out of the house and stay
until the all clear went. It was very frightening to hear all the
bombers overhead and bombs dropping all around.We were very lucky to survive, as there were many casualties and
tragic deaths over this period.We
did not go to school for a time as all the lessons were interrupted, so
we had plenty of spare time and my brother and I used to go round the
streets with a big black tin collecting shrapnel from the bombing raids
the night before, we got quite a collection of various pieces including
silver nose cones off anti-aircraft shells.

I
remember my friend Olive’s mother who was a dressmaker made me a
lovely pair of navy blue trousers out of my mothers old coat, which I
thought was lovely for the shelter and my mother also bought me a pair
of tan boots with green laces which were actually called 'shelter
boots’ they were very fashionable, everyone was wearing them. We could
not buy too many clothes as they were on coupons issued to every
household, also food was on ration but we never really went hungry, we
just made the best of what we had.

In
time the air raids got fewer, we didn't go away on holiday to our usual
place Bournemouth but dad would take a weeks holiday and we would go out
each day to various places, which was very enjoyable, one being
Stratford on Avon, another was Evesham. Another day we visited a circus
in the afternoon at Bingley Hall in town, followed by a meal at 'Greys'
in Bull Street in their quite elaborate restaurant on the top floor. I
remember mom, my brother and I had 'Spam fritters' which was quite the
in thing to have and dad had American dried egg on toast and various
cakes. There was not much choice at the time to choose from.We were lucky to get anything but we enjoyed it anyway. In the
evening we caught the 33 tram from town to the 'Crown' cinema and the
film we saw was 'Errol Flynn' starring in 'They Died With Their Boots
On’, a cowboy film, which was very good - the end of a lovely day.

In
1943 I left the senior school at Brookfield’s and started work at
'Barrows Stores' in town. It was a very well known high-class grocery
store, it also specialised in very good teas and coffee. For a few
months I began in the stock room weighing up the packets of loose tea,
sugar and various items. I really enjoyed it and all the girls were
really friendly, we had some good times together. Eventually I moved up
into the office and had my own desk number 10.We had travellers who would go to various districts and visit the
customers and take their grocery orders.They were brought back to the office and we used to add all the
items up and the invoices were sent downstairs to the despatch
department, the girls would put all the groceries in baskets and then
put them on a conveyor belt to the garage, where the vans were waiting
to load up and deliver them to the customers.

We
also had a telephone sales room and of course personal shoppers also. It
was a good firm to work for, although the wages were not too good. I
used to go to Bourneville School one day a week until I was 16, for
further education. I would go on the tram from town to Selly Oak, then
on to the outer circle bus to Bourneville, which was a lovely little
village.We studied
quite a few subjects, including swimming, which I really enjoyed.Lunchtime I would go to the restaurant at Cadburys, which was a
massive building. All expenses were paid for me by 'Barrows’ they
-were also related to Cadburys.

Back
at the office I had two good friends.We used to go out together a couple of times in the week and bank
holidays.We sometimes went
to stay with friends at Bewdley.We
had some lovely times there. My aunt also later had a caravan there.We would go for long walks by the River Severn, we also
enjoyed going to the local dances at the town hall, where we met some
very nice local boys. After a nice weekend we would get up early on the
Tuesday morning and catch the Midland Red bus back to Birmingham and go
straight to the office for 8.30am, we used to feel shattered but it was
all well worth it.

I
was now almost reaching my 16th birthday.Over the years I had some wonderful times and these were my
childhood memories. I then went on to new challenges in my later life -
which, as they say, is another story

Doris
Simpson

26th
October 2009

Memories
of Terry Turberville

I
lived at 3/103 Icknield Port Road from my birth in 1946 until 1965.
Our house was just across the road from the Belle Vue Public House. My
dad used to work behind the bar.

I
attended Barford Road School and I sang in the choir at Christ
Church, Summerfield, not far away. The vicar at the time was Reverend
Hinnett, if my memory serves me well.

I can recall the Coronation in 1953, we celebrated this just up the road
in the entrance to the reservoir. In those days, the only people allowed
into the reservoir were a sailing club.

Regards

Terry

Memories
of Geoff Massey

I
worked at Munn's Brothers, Photographic Processing and Printing Company
in CamdenStreet
when I left school aged 15 in 1955.

I
can't remember the number of Camden Street where Munn's Bros was, only
that it was some way down on the right from the Hockley direction.

Do
you have any information on Munn's Bros? It was a small family business
run by the father known as Mr Munn's and his two sons Mr Charles and Mr
?

I
worked in the darkrooms on the photographic enlargers. It was piecework
with a basic wage and so much per print after that but they had to be
good prints that passed quality control.

I
would take a No70 bus from Brunswick Road, Handsworth to Hockley (near
Cannings, I think) and walk the rest of the way through part of the
Jewellery District to CamdenStreet.
I would pass mainly small silver-plating companies and sand blasting
companies on the way and often spoke to the workers leaning on the wall
outside having a fag and a cup of tea.

Geoff Massey

18th
October 2009

Memories
of Albert Collins

My
wife was born in 1930 at 67 Marroway Street, the home of her
grandparents, Alfred and Matilda Quiney, also the premises of Rudge Brown, coal merchants to industry,
for whom Alfred was caretaker, stableman and coal deliverer.

When
my wife was 12 months old, however, her parents got their first house on
the new council estate in Northfield. Her grandparents stayed in
Marroway Street until her grandfather retired in 1939, having then to
relinquish the tenancy of the tied house.

Her
mother, nee Lewis, was also a Ladywood girl, having been born in
1903, and subsequently lived in Clark Street until her marriage at St.
Patrick’s Church in 1928.

Albert
Collins

Memories
of John Evans

Photo
taken at the Mount Pleasant, Reservoir Road in around the mid
eighties, awards night for the angling club.

I'm
on the back row far right; also in picture are John Townsend, Brett
& Gerry Colleff (sorry not to sure of other names)

Regards

John
Evans

Memories
of Tony Bond

The
lad who owned the two greyhounds was Kenny Adams, he lived at 2/54 Maple
Terrace, opposite Grimleys and the Hyde Arms.

My
name is Tony Bond, I moved in to Kenny Adams house in 1958/59. I went to
Osler Street till I was 15 and I left school in 1959.

We
moved from 33 Clark Street, to 2/54, I remember Grimleys when I was a
lad; I also remember Wynns chip shop. Used to go up to the Reservior.
Left Clark Street when I was 21. 33 Clark Street is where Joe
Harris, the coal man keep his horse and cart up the entry, I lived there
till I was 14.

Tony
Bond

Memories
of John Bell

Sheila
Rushworth, nee Bromley - Ken Adams is the name whose father kept
greyhounds, also you have mentioned Alan Hinton, both are on my school
photo under Osler Street, 1953 class 2a, they went through infant's to
seniors leaving in December 1955, with myself and both were mates, also
John Hubbard was in my junior class, I lived in Freeth Street in those
days, hope this helps.

Kind
Regards

John
Bell

Memories
of Pam Shaw

Congratulations
on this great site, it brought back many happy memories, and many things
that over time I had forgot.

I
was born in Parker Street Ladywood and remember Gordon Wilkinson’s
family well, we lived at 22 Parker Street, there was my mom Rose,
brothers Barry and Norman, our surname was Shaw.

Parker
Street

My
brother Norman used to ride in the lorries from the Carbon Dioxide with
the driver who, if I remember correctly, was called George Daniels.

Gordon’s
sister Gloria, was one of my playmates, happy days!

We
then moved to Bellis Street, lots of memories from your site there.

Hope
to read lots more about my childhood area in the future.

Thanks
Mac

4th
October 2009

Memories
of Sheila Rushworth, nee Bromley

I
have remembered a few more bits and found a few more photo's, Mrs. Trigg
from school, a Mr. Trigg used to throw the rubber at everyone, don't
know if they were married, Miss McLoughlin was the headmistress.

There
was a lad called Kenny, that lived up the entry next to 48 Clark Street,
his dad kept a couple of greyhounds. We had some white cats (3), they
were deaf, one of them went up and died in the kennel of the greyhounds.

Mr.
and Mrs. Purcell lived on the opposite side of the road to the school,
opposite the top gate; Colin Norris lived opposite the bottom gate.

We
moved higher up the road to 2/59 Clarke Street in 1957, my dad wanted a
garden.

Inside
Hyde Arms Amy, Florrie, Vera and Mom and Dad

Joe Wakeling and
my Dad acting the goat outside number 48

I don't know who
the man is with the car, but it was a car my Dad had repaired,
he worked at the garage in Osler Street at the time, the shop is
Grimley's.

I think this photo
was taken looking down Clarke Street, after we moved in 1957

Mom Daisy Bromley
and two friends, both called Amy, outside the Hyde Arms

Sheila
Rushworth, nee Bromley

These photographs are copyright and must not be
used for any for any financial gain, commercial
publications, social media or any other internet website or publication relating to Ladywood
or Birmingham without permission

2nd
October 2009

Memories
of Sheila Rushworth, nee Bromley

I
have been looking at your website for a long time, its great. I just
wish that I could save it all; so far I haven't remembered anyone that I
have read about.

I
was born in Ladywood in 1941 at 42 Clark Street, when I was 2, we moved
just a few doors up to number 48, right opposite the Hyde Arms (my Nan
lived at number 42, she was called Lillian Dawson). My Mom and Dad were
Daisy and Mick Bromley, and I am Sheila.

I
went to Osler Street School from just before I was 5, right up to being
15 (Sept 1945 to Dec 1956).

Teachers
I remember are, Miss Ray in the infants, Miss Wastell who died, when it
was her birthday she bought us all a small Cadbury's caramel bar and
when she died I remember we all lined the street while the funereal went
past.

People
from the street that I remember are Maureen and Michael Hawthorne; Irene
Humpage and her brothers Clive and Malcolm; Josie Wakeling; Josie Yates;
the Carter family, who lived in Hyde Road; Lois and Doris and their
brothers, John Ike John Hubbord, who died while we were at school; Alan
Hinton. My best friend was Pauline Thomas who lived in Mostyn Grove,
there was also Una Hunt from school.

Have
included a few photo's to see if it jogs anyone’s memory

My Nan, Mom, two
of my cousins Dad and Me

My Dad, when he
was working for Charles Wynn

Nan, Me and Mom

Mom, a few years
before she died in 1985

Nan, taken in the
back garden about 1952

I would like
some help with this one, I think it was some kind of nursing
home or hospital, but don't know where or what, my Mom is third
from the left.

All
for now, I really miss Brum and your site is the next best thing.

Sheila
Rushworth, nee Bromley

15th
September 2009

Memories
of Geoff Millington

I
remember Lee's bike/record shop, which was located slightly back from
the main road, and stood on the Spring Hill. The shop did not
retail bicycles, there being limited space available on the premises,
but did carry a good range of cycle accessories.

In
the late forties, and fifties, and before the advent of vinyl
recordings, it was the place to go in the area for those rigid
78 records.

I
did buy all my 78's, and boxes of steel gramophone needles from the
shop. Whenever the steel spring snapped in my old portable HMV
gramophone, I would take it to the shop, my Dad would give me a few
pounds, and it would be repaired as good as new. I only ever remember
being served by one gentleman; he was of slim build, always neatly
dressed in a smart suit, and very pleasant in manner. Nothing was
too much trouble for him in locating that obscure disc for his
customers. I cannot say if that gentleman’s name was
Clifford or Bert, but he did offer a good service.

I
believe the little shop narrowly missed being bombed during the war.
Certainly bombs fell to the rear, and across the road from that line of
shops. I sadly regret that I didn't take any photographs of
the shop, or other small businesses at that time, as we were living
nearby, in that area. The music has ended, but the memories
linger on.

Kind
regards,

Geoff
Millington

2nd
September 2009

Memories
of Veronica Calway, nee Hall

I
was born at 4/59 Ledsam Street behind Morgan's newsagent in 1947 (and am
still alive!) one of your contributors is my first cousin, Phil Trentham.

My
mother Jane worked at the Old Steam Clock on the corner of Morville
Street where she met my dad Denis Hall.

The
Old Steam Clock

I
have so many happy memories of Ladywood, there was always something to
do - usually mischief. Does anyone remember when they started moving us
out in the fifties, how they boarded up windows and locked the doors of
the empty houses and how tiny the pantry windows were - no problem.

I
was very small and could fit easily, the lads shoved me through, I
released the catch of the door and in they went. I must have been the
most popular kid on the block. They made a good job of the chemist shop
in Ledsam Street, I was dying to get in there, but no go. Bonfire
nights were great, all the weeks of collecting 'plunder' and storing it
in one of the washhouses, we must have had the best night in the street
because when the shop closed Mrs. Morgan would bring out some unsold
fireworks.

Across
the other yard, Mr. Cook kept racing pigeons and when he fed them I
would nip over the wall and pick up a few bits of corn. Over the weeks I
had quite a collection and decided I would feed the pigeons with
'my' corn so when they landed I threw the corn over the wall and watched
the birds scoffing while Mr. Cook was losing his mind. My dad explained
to me that the birds had been racing and they couldn't be 'clocked'
until they returned to the loft. Mr. Cook was someone I had to avoid for
months.

If
there's anyone out there who remembers this little bit of Ladywood or if
Billy Morgan and Pete Evans are logged on please contact me.

Thanks
Mac for all your hard work.

Veronica
Calway nee Hall

20th
August 2009

Memories
of Gordon Wilkinson

First
Congratulations on a fantastic Web Site, I now live in Flixton, Greater
Manchester, since 1961, before that I lived at 11 Parker Street,
Edgbaston, The reason I am contacting you is I am hoping that that
somewhere out there will remember my Family.

My Father was Lionel (Len) Wilkinson, he was the Manager of the Carbon
Dioxide Garage in Parker Street, our House was next to the garage.
My Mum was Doris and my Brothers were Derek & Ken, my sister was
Gloria. We had lots of friends in the street, I remember the Cashmoore
Family - Les, Hilda, Margaret, Susan and the twins, Roger & Tony. We
all used to go on holiday together to Cornwall, I remember them as a
lovely family.

My best friends were John Hardy, Alan Smith, Christopher Jordan, we
spent all our school holidays playing hide & seek in the Botanical
Gardens, what a lovely place that is. I have taken my family to visit
the Gardens and they loved it, how could you not? We also used to go to
the Reservoir to collect frog spawn, Saturday morning was always
reserved for Saturday Matinee at the Edgbaston Cinema, Roy Rogers, Flash
Gordon etc etc, and then run home on the imaginary horse, chased by
Indians, strange you always seemed to run faster if you slapped your
backside.

The Photo shown on Parker Street with the Black Smiths down the
entry, shows my old house, No11, on the right corner, the Iron Gates
being the side entrance, on the left side not shown, was a little Grocer
shop owned by a lovely lady, Mrs Pittam, she sold everything, including
a great selection of sweets. She was very kind to all the children, she
had a big greyhound called Cream, that used to take me for a walk, I
know it should have been the other way round, but he was a
greyhound and he had to be in the front.

My wife and I stay at the Plough & Harrow Hotel, Hagley Road,
when we come to concerts in Birmingham, I still get a buzz when I visit
the area, but that comes from living and playing with friends and
knowing there family's in the fifties, when times were not always
easy, but you were surrounded by genuine people, the salt of the
earth as they say.

I have not, and never will, forget my time in Edgbaston and I must not
forget my School, Osler Street, it gave me my standards for life.

So
please, if any one out there who may remember any of the above I look
forward to hearing from you.

Mac,
once again thanks for all your input in this fabulous website

Gordon
Wilkinson

27th
July 2009

Memories
of Joe Brown

I
lived at 4A Norwood Villas in Waterworks Road during the war years.

There
are 6 houses in Norwood Villas and they are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A
and 6. There was some reason why, the house, which should have been No
5, was changed to 4A. The oval shaped cast No Plate on the door was
the same type and shape as on all the other houses. It has always
puzzled me as to the reason.

I wrote to the Birmingham Library to the Ask a Question section and did
have a reply saying that the number was changed in 1918, but was not
able to say why.

If any one living in that area would like to drive by sometime and just
have a look at the numbers and tell me if they are still numbered like
that I will be obliged. Any information on the block known as
Norwood Villas would be appreciated.

Norwood Villas are on the left hand side just before Stirling Road.
There was a shop at the end of the block of houses called, in those
days, The Cabin and he sold a lot of tea, which he blended himself.

I would love to hear from anyone about Norwood Villas.

As a child I lived in Friston Street, Beaufort Road, Rann
Street, in that order and then in Norwood Villas Waterworks Rd till I
married and then lived in Sparkhill, left for Australia in 1957.

Cheers
to all, Joe Brown

Any
replies to Mac and will be greatly appreciated.

Memories
of Mark Crump

My
Grandmother was Phyllis Hilda Crump who's maiden name was Lucas. She was
one of eleven kids who grew up in Grosvenor Street West.

I think she lived at 11b. Her bothers and sisters that I know of
were, Jack, Stan, Arthur, Ted, Lillian and Ruby. There were others but I
don't know all their names.

She married my grandfather Bill Crump, who's mum used to run a chip shop
in Icknield Street.

I have a copy of a Sunday school new testament that was filled out on
March 9th, 1930, ten years before WW2 and states her address
as 11b Grosvenor Street West, Ladywood.

My grandfather Bill, is now 91 years old.

Mark
Crump

7th
July 2009

Memories
of Betty Cowley, nee Floyd

I
have just found out about this website and noticed an e-mail asking for
people from Edward Street, I lived at number 3, next to the pub on the
corner of King Edward's Road from 1948 until l964.

I
remember the Lyric Cinema (known as the flea pit) and the factories and
warehouses and of course, the bomb site in Scotland Street.

My
Dad was a "bookie's runner", before gambling became legal, for
a bookmaker who lived in a house in King Edward's Road. I remember the
railway line, which I could see from my attic bedroom window - where the
NIA is now built.

Mr
Dad was Les Floyd, a darts player who frequented most of the local pubs.

Anyone
share those memories.

Betty
Cowley (nee Floyd

6th
June 2009

Memories
of Val Brown, nee Smith

My
Mum, Dad and I lived in Barker Street (opposite Ricketts) until 1947.
We had the whole house on the front of the street and there was a lady
up the top of the yard whom I called Granny White. My Mum worked
at Wilmot Breedon in Camden Street for many years. She used to
assemble the door locks for Rolls Royce.

Also
in Barker Street lived a family called Giblin. As far as I
remember the Mum was Jean and there was a daughter whom everyone called
Lolly. After we moved to Quinton “Aunty” Jean used to mind me
for Mum whilst she was at work. Aunty Jean and her family moved
out in the redevelopment era to St. Luke’s Road, I think.

I
don’t know if anyone remembers us! My dad was a very bad cripple
and I had poor eyesight.

I
remember being so proud of being able to get some messages for my Mum
and Dad from Ricketts. I also remember going down Nelson Street
with a basin to fetch tripe and onions and also remember the fruit and
veg shop down there.

My
Dad didn’t move very far from his childhood home to his marriage home
as he was brought up at 1 back of 70 Garbet Street. He had nine
brothers and sisters and his Dad (my Grand-Dad) was a blacksmith.
His name and my dad’s, was Frank William Smith and my Mum was Elsie
Smith, nee Marshall. She came out of Northwood Street I believe and
had five brothers and sisters.

I
was told that I was the first little girl in the street to have a
doll’s pram after the war had finished. Apparently Mum paid
weekly for it from Mr Pearce who had a shop just past the canal (near, I
think, what is now St. Vincent Street). Mum had a lot of things on
“the weekly” and I used to love going to see Mr Pearce because he
would always find some sweets for me and let me sit in his big chair.

We
had relations in New Spring Street and Cope Street and I was always
fascinated because they only had the back half of a house. I
always wondered what was upstairs but never found out. I imagined
that there must be another family living above, but that was just
childish daydreaming because I know that’s where they did sleep.
How they brought up a family with the gas cooker in the only living room
and a little tiny scullery where washing, etc. etc. took place.

Visiting
them made me realise how lucky I was to have a kitchen, brewhouse and a
little garden, which, although it was fenced off, I was never, allowed
to play in it. We either played in the street or up the yard –
preferably someone else’s yard!

Mum
and Dad were married in 1930 and if anyone has any knowledge of our
family or of Dad when he was growing up in Garbet Street, I’d love to
hear from you. There are so many holes in my family tree.

Regards

Val
Brown (nee Smith)

6th
May 2009

Memories
of David Tysall

I
was born in William Street in 1943 and I attended St. Thomas’ School
in Granville Street from 1948 to 1958. My mother & father were Alice
& Bill Tysall, my father worked at Davenports and my mother worked
at Kunzels in Broad Street along with two of my aunties, Gladys and

Blodwen
Hackett.

In
1955, I joined the 8th company Boys Brigade and I played the bugle.
Every xmas during the late forties and early fifties, two public houses
KINGS ARMS (corner of William Street and Bishopsgate Street) and THE
WHITE HORSE in William Street use to throw xmas parties for all the
children who lived in the area. My friends who I used to go around with
at the time were Tony Kendrick, Micky Glaze, Frankie Glaze.

I
used to go every Saturday afternoon to the Lyric picture house and I
remember going to the Ledsam cinema in Ledsam Street and they used to
come round with a can of DDT and everyone got sprayed.

Happy
memories

David
Tysall

Memories
of Donna

Hello,
I was just looking at the old photos of Ladywood, and Osler Street
School, in one photo you have my fathers name John Clark, but I’m not
sure if its him as he didn’t attend Osler Street School, but my mom
did, her name is Iris Cartwright and she lived on Osler Street with her
2 sisters, Frances & Jennifer and my grandparents who’s names are
Frank and Eva Cartwright.

My
dad went to Barford Road School.

Kind
regards

Donna

6th
April 2009

Memories
of Carol Barry

I
am an Aussie with an English Mum. I have been looking into my family
history but unfortunately since my mothers
death I have no more information. I found your site and wondered if
anyone would be able to help. My mother (Phyllis Cartwright) was
born in 1912 and lived in 304 Camden
Street as a child then came to Australia. She and her family
returned to Birmingham just before the war and lived in Queens Road,
then after that was bombed at 111 Gravelly
Lane. When living at Camden Street their neighbours
were the Bodens (Chappy,
Harry, Peggy Dennis and Maggie and the Renshaw’s
(Bill who married my aunt Maude); Edie Violet and Nellie. Mum went to
Ellen Street School. When they returned to England from Australia
my mother worked for a firm called Birds, who were menswear and Tailors.
She loved it very much for they were kind and generous people,
both the owners and the Manager, a Mr. Woolley.

My
mother’s brother Frank (Francis George)
remained in Birmingham until his death. He was Superintendent of B
Division of Birmingham City Police for 8 years and a member of the Force
for 4 years, he was one of the youngest men to be appointed
Superintendent at the time. He lived in Speedwell Road and his
Station was Ladywood Police Station.

Uncle
Frank died in 1938 and I have the cuttings from the local newspaper
reporting his death and funeral, also an article when he organised a
bonfire, 35 feet high and eight yards square, to which a reported 5,000
children attended.

He
was awarded the Kings Jubilee Medal and Kings Coronation Medal and the
military Medal during WWI during which his young brother Leonard was
killed. He is buried in Warstone Lane Cemetery;
I know the site, unfortunately there is no headstone.

As
far as I know none of my relatives are in England any longer, but I
would love to know if any of the above addresses and businesses are
still standing. I don’t think anyone will remember the events I
have mentioned, as they are a long time ago, but if anyone has anything
at all I would love to hear from them.

Thank
you so much for a great website that gives me some idea of
my mothers home when she was growing up.

Carol
Barry

Memories
of Ken Jackson

Just
found out about your web site, I used to live in Ladywood and went to
Johnstone Street School, well I used to live next door to the school,
went to Osler Street as well.

My
name is Ken Jackson, I used work at W. T. French’s in Browning Street.
I knew Kenny Stokes, Breada Lenard, Roger Jones all in Browning Street.
We all used to meet on the corner had a lot of fun.

I
also knew Barry Steel, Bob Crutchley, they lived in Gt. Tindal Street;
Billy Cotteral lived in St. Mary Street, along with many friends who
lived around there.

I
would love to meet some of them if or to get in touch with me by E/Mail.

Cheers

Ken
Jackson (Jacko)

16th
March 2009

Memories
of George Cope

I
lived in Clark Street from 1956 till about 1962/3. we lived at the top
end, and my mom and dad were George and Emily Cope.

We
lived next door to the Joyce’s.

If
any one remembers us or has any photographs of my family lurking about,
I and my sisters and brothers would be grateful. This site has brought
back many memories, including the coal man and his horse, bonfire nights
at the back of the houses, out door lavs.

Looking
at the photos on your site remind me of how little we had, it’s a
wonder any of us survived.

At
the moment I am Writing A book for my grandchildren, about my time
growing up in Ladywood and Winson Green, thanks again for jogging my
grey matter.

George
Cope

22nd
February 2009

Memories
of David Paddock

Hi,
whilst in hospital, the man in the next bed, on finding out I was from
Ladywood told me about your web site. On returning home I clicked on to
Sherborne Street and was amazed to see a photo of my granddads house,
looking at me, Herbert and Mal Pierpont. My mom was one of eight
children, when she married her name changed to Paddock and we lived in
Morville Street, there was me, David my brother Teddy and my sister
Elaine.

My
brother and I both went to Osler Street School; I went to St.
Barnabas first and also held my wedding reception there in September
1963.

David Paddock

9th
February 2009

Memories
of June Mitchell, nee Saunders

My
name is June Mitchell, nee Saunders, I am Rose Evans' sister and I too
lived in Cope Street, Ladywood.

I attended Steward Street school from 1938-1945. I married my
childhood sweetheart, Ronald Mitchell in 1954.

I worked at a factory called 'Bulpitts' (Swan Brand) and worked with a
dear friend called Margaret Luckman and Joan Plant. Margaret
married just after I did (about 1955) and her name is now Margaret Nash.
She lived in Berryfield, Aldridge, Walsall. I think she has 3
sons, though I'm not entirely sure.

I would love to hear from either of them, so if they should see this
post, it would be absolutely wonderful if Margaret or Joan could get in
touch to contact me.

It is a fantastic website, brought back so many memories. There
are some brilliant photo's. Well done!!

If anyone remembers me, please get in touch.

June Mitchell (nee Saunders)

2nd
February 2009

Memories
of Ken Wilkinson

Hi
what a fab website.

My name is Ken Wilkinson, I
went to Follett Osler, and left in 1957.

I lived in Parker Street, Edgbaston; my father ran the garage
there for many years.

When we left in 1957
we went to live in Handsworth Wood, from there in 1962, we moved to Manchester.

I have great memories of my time at Follett Osler.

I knocked about with Kenny Jones
and Deidre who lived on Reservoir Road, I had many
friends who were very important to me like Colin Hardy and his sister Margaret, plus Valerie Hawkins.

Where does time go,
if you know me please get in touch.

Ken
Wilkinson

Memories
of Stan Humphreys

The
tall man on the left is Ted Pickard who lived in Icknield Port Road, he
was a scrap metal dealer.

He
died about 1960 and was a friend of my dad's, Stan Humphreys, the man on
the right. I'm sure they will now be having a pint in heaven.

I
send this photo in case any of the Pickard family would like this photo,
I will send the original if contact is made.

Stan
jnr

26th
December 2008

Memories
of Tony Rudge

I
have just found this most remarkable site, its brill

!

My
memories of Ladywood start about 1958, I was born in Shakespeare Road at
my Granddads house which was behind the coal merchants backing onto the
train line. My Aunt Wyn, lived 2 doors away.

Times
were hard but Mom and Dad always made sure that we were fed and washed.

We moved
to Icknield Port Road when I was 4, address 2/44.

Memories
of my older brother dressing me up as Guy Fawkes and sitting me outside
the Glassblowers for penny for the guy, this is no kidding we made more
that night than ever before.

One
year my Dad decided to have a bigger fire than normal and the heat was
that intense than the brickwork started to glow red, great fun for a 9
year old.

Christmas
was always magical as in the run up you always went to Lewis's to see
Uncle Holley and Father Christmas, the wait on the stairs always
seemed to be longer as the years went by, but to reach the end was
always so disappointing as that was it for another year.

The
visit to Hickman's to get your fruit and veg was always something to
remember as old man Hickman knew my Granddad well and always found some
type of fruit to give to me and me brother.

I
went to Follet Osler Infants and remember teachers Mrs Voraneska, Miss
Ray and Miss Hughes.

I
had my first kiss down the entry by the school from a girl called
Jennifer Furlong at 10, seems so long ago.

Most
of my parent’s family lived in the same area and every week Mom would
get us ready to visit one of the unfortunate Uncle or Aunts.

We
moved to Weoley Castle in 1966, but every week Mom would take us
back to shop on either Monument Road or the flat.

Thank
you for the great feeling this site has given me.

Love
and peace

Tony
Rudge

Memories
of Dave Marsh

Back
in November 2001 I received an e-mail from Pete Murray after he saw my
entry in your guest book and he asked if my sister remembered Jill
Rawlins as they both attended St Barnabas' Infant School in the 50's.

We
continued to e-mail each other and he came over on holiday in 2003 and
we visited Ladywood together.

This
year my wife and I went on holiday and stayed with Pete and his fiancé
Heather in , they were wonderful hosts showing us all the sights.

I
have attached a photo of Pete with Jill and myself (Pete is on
the left - a staunch BLUES fan)

Pete
lived in Garbett Street and attended Follett Osler from 1956 to 1960,
eventually emigrating to Australia in the 70's, and he sends his
regards to anyone who might remember him

Once
again thanks

David
Marsh

10th
December 2008

Memories
of Maureen Ramsey

Although
I was not born in Ladywood - I was actually born in Smethwick and in
1939 moved into Birmingham to Bearwood, near Sandon Road. However,
I was at school at the Oratory from 1939 until 1944. What
memories I have been given although something’s I remember slightly
differently.

Is
there anyone old enough to remember Miss Brindle; I always thought
she was quite young, but she taught my father (and he was born in 1891!)
so she must have been a fair age. There were 3 or 4 classrooms
that had folding doors to make them into one big one. Miss Brindle
taught me to knit and we had to tie our names on to the wool at the
bottom so we knew whose it was! I then moved to St Paul’s in
Vernon Road.

My
mother used to pay a girl called Anna Daley (she had a sister Florence)
who lived in Bearwood, to take me on the No 6 bus to school to the top
of Monument Road and paid her a halfpenny a week for doing so! Am I
right in now thinking that the secondary school was in Oliver Road
because I always thought that this was the boys school?

Does
anyone remember the horrible cheese pie at lunchtime and the looking
glass at the top of the stairs that said 'Am I tidy?'

I
remember Mr Holland, Sister Agatha and Sister Joseph with their wing
like headdresses. Sister Joseph was very formidable and I'm glad
to find I'm not the only one to find her so.

My
grandparents lived in Reservoir Road and I wonder if anyone remembers
the Lewis family, who were originally in Coxwell Road and then Reservoir
Road.

After
Reservoir Road was pulled down to make the new road, my aunts moved to a
high rise somewhere and it wasn't the same. Their house had a
walled garden and a telephone on the wall like Maigrets'. My uncle
Frank also had a grand piano, so the house must have been a reasonable
size. I think it was on the corner of Reservoir Road and Monument
Road.

If
anyone remembers my father’s family I would love to hear from them.
I gather that several of them were members of the Oratory Choir.

I
particularly would like to know more about Edward Lewis, who married
Mary Whelan - her father was Patrick Whelan and they lived in Freeth
Street. Are there any of these Whelan’s around I wonder. The
Lewis's at some point lived in Hyde Road, was that where the school was?

Later
my father would go to Mass at the Oratory and meet his brothers, Ted,
Frank and his sister Cis. They would then adjourn to the Ivy Bush.
(No one had mentioned that pub yet and it's still there I gather).

There
was also Jack Lewis, Winifred his sister who both married, did anyone
know them?

I
am enclosing a photo of No 6 Coxwell Road. It was taken at the same time
as the others on the website.

We
lived in No 6 (on the corner of Oliver Road) from 1963 to 1966. We had
lived in Cope Street previously and with the demolition programme
"moved up" to Coxwell Road. Ironic really, after walking back
and forth from Cope Street to Follett Osler, four times a day, for
four years, we moved round the corner months AFTER leaving
school?

The
"improvements" were that we now had three bedrooms, a separate
lounge, a garden AND a bathroom, with indoor toilet (luxury). No
running hot water mind you or heating.

We
literally had to carry buckets of hot water upstairs to have a bath? The
family at the time was Mom Pru, Dad Albert. Brothers Alan (the
baby) and John, sisters, Angela and Elaine. Two elder sisters were
married by that time.

We
moved on to Quinton in 1966. Somewhere Mom had always wanted to live.

Albert

2nd
December 2008

Memories
of Denise Lonsdale

What
a fantastic website!

I
just came across it today and have been enchanted by all the old photo's
etc. I wasn't born in Ladywood, but lived there from the age of
nine until I got married in the 60's.

My
three sons were born there, the middle one now in America, which is the
reason how I came to find your site. He gets nostalgic about
Ladywood, and after just buying one the Old Ladywood Calendars, I typed
in Ladywood on the web and up you popped!

Does
anyone remember Mr Mortimer, who owned the record shop in Ryland Street?

To
me at the time, he was really old, but he knew every new record that
came out and always had one playing.

Looking
down Ryland Street towards Mortimer's

I
remember Durham’s up Grosvenor Street West, (that's where I lived in
the new houses, we moved in there in 1955 right opposite the pub the
White Swan) and there was Gabriel's in Ruston Street, they sold the
toffee in the tin trays and it had to be broken up with a little hammer.

The
White Swan

The
chip shop in Ryland Street was great, we use to call it Cathy's,
but she wasn't the owner, (don't know their names). The coal yard was on
the corner of Grosvenor Street and Sheepcote Street. There was a
cafe on the other corner, Roy's, my mom worked there for quite a
few years, her name was Bridget.

I
could go on all night, but must come to a close, will be in touch
another time.

Keep
up the good work on the site, it's fabulous.

Denise
Lonsdale

28th
November 2008

Memories
of Jenny Lloyd and her Father

My
grandparents were James & Ellen Gumbley (Jim & Nell). They were
caretakers at St Barnabas Church in the late 1930s and during the 40s.
This picture was taken on an outing, probably in the 1950s. (It was
definitely no later than 1957 as my grandfather died in June 1957). Dad
thinks it was from when Nan worked at a greengrocers shop in Broad
Street. He can't remember the name of the shop, but it was between Five Ways
and Ruston Street. The only greengrocers I can remember is
Johnson's, but Dad says it wasn't that one. Granddad is 4th in from the
right (standing) and Nan is standing in the centre holding her handbag.

This
is my Nan, Ellen (Nell) Gumbley with her friend in Broad Street probably
taken late 50s or early 60s. I don't know her friend's name. She always
referred to her friends as "Mrs whatever their name was" which
I think was fairly usual for her generation. The only names I remember
are Mrs Mogg and Mrs Blackwell, but Dad says this lady is neither of
those.

A
Shop in Grosvenor Street West VE Day 1945 -

Dad
took this photo to show the shop dressed up for VE Day.

Doris
Downes, Nan and Janet Downes - Doris Downes lived in front of my Nan's
house in Ruston Street in the 1950s and early 60s.

VE
Day St. Barnabas churchyard

VE
Day St. Barnabas churchyard

23rd
November 2008

Memories
of Barry Bevington

I
am 66 now, I lived in Essington Street in about 1947 to 50.

We
lived in a 2up 2down, back to back house in a yard off the street. It
had gas lighting and who remembers those mantels one touch! New one
needed, black hob constant need of blacking, cooking stove in the corner
of the living room, big brown crock sink in the scullery area with cold
water tap which sometimes froze.

I
remember ice on the inside of the bedroom window, where we 3
brothers slept, 2 at first then 3, mom and dad with the new baby in the
back room. I went to St. Barnabas School; first the infants then
across the road to the juniors with its sloping blue brick play
ground. I remember the harvest festival in the church, my mom sent me with
a contribution it was a lump of coal.

One
day I some people came to the school, I assume must have been
social workers, who asked the children "who was wearing the only
pair of shoes they had?” so I put my hand up, gave my name, never
thought any more about it, mistake!

When
the man from the Daily Mail came with a pair of boots with hob nails,
did I get it when he had gone "disgrace to our family and all the
school will think we’re hard up" the fact that nearly every
body was didn’t matter, our family could not be thought to be.
Those boots were great to slide in the blue brick schoolyard and made
sparks the lads thought they were great.

I
can only recall a couple of names from St. Barnabas, Mrs Powell, I
think was head of infants, a couple of lads Kenny Nash and
Jimmy Ingram; girls I recall Pat Caldicott, Margaret Simmons
and Needle, they sat behind me in class, Jennifer Weaver always had
plaits.

I
remember us at school going on the tram from Navigation Street to Manor
Farm we all had labels tied to us with our names on. How they kept
it organised I will never know!

In our street there was a coal yard and I can remember going with my dad
to fetch some coal from there in a big wooden barrow to drop down our
cellar, I can’t remember the year, but the snow was nearly over them
boots!

While
we were there, my dad with a little help from me, probably more
hindrance, helped load some other peoples barrows, the lorries could not
get out to deliver.

My best friend in the street was Dennis Raferty, he did not go to our
school because his family were catholic. He had an older brother, Tommy who
one day had a "dinky" toy lorry and trailer, how I wanted that
toy, I got my dad to try and buy it off him but he would not sell ,I
hated that Tommy.

I have always been interested in trains; this got me and my brother John
in trouble. Not far from where we lived was Monument Road railway
engine sheds, so I talked John into going to see the trains, bad move.
We stayed watching for some time, no idea how long, then started
back up Sheepcote Street, who’s coming down the road looking for us,
DAD.

I
said to John he hasn’t seen us, we step down this side road and let
him go past, big mistake. He had seen us, we had gone down a road to the
canal side, John’s first words when he brought me home after that it
was mainly monosyllable ringing ears and painful backsides. When
home no help off mom “7 and 6 year olds don’t go by canals or by
railways never mind how far out of my sight now get to bed out of
sight”.

Not long after the houses were fitted with tiled fireplaces and a lot of
those black grates were smashed up. How much for one now. Shortly after
we moved out into what was to us the countryside with a posh
name Turves Green.

The
great thing about it was at the bottom of the garden was the main Birmingham
to Bristol line on a bank level with the rear bedroom window.

At
first we had to go to school by coach, but that’s another
story.

Barry
Bevington

18th
November 2008

Memories
of Elizabeth Sloyan (Barnes)

Hello
to everyone looking through this site that has brought back such good
memories, that I thought it was time I wrote in myself.

We
lived at 14 Reservoir Avenue in Clark Street and I am 1 of 10 children,
who along with mum and dad, all resided in a 2-bedroom 1attic, which you
can imagine was very cramped but we all managed. Our entry was next door
to Follett Osler school and when our dad was at the pub and the
caretaker was not around, we used the school playground as our yard to
play in till we were caught and told in a not very polite way to get off
the premises; we would then move on up the road to the Reservoir to play
on the steps attached to the Tower Ballroom and play house or hide
and seek. My older brother, Michael, lost part of his finger when he
dropped one of the slab steps trying to retrieve a sixpence he could see
stuck in between the slabs.

We
had some good times there, but because dad was very strict we were not
supposed to come out of the back garden, but as soon as he was out of
sight off we would go in search of excitement, but well betide we were
late, as we would not be able to sit for a week and mum would also get a
clatter for letting us out of her sight, as far as he was concerned we
would be up to mischief and be annoying the elderly neighbours, but we
didn't because we knew they would tell on us.

There
were lots of big Irish families like ours so I think you assumed
everyone was in the same boat. Our weekends were called Saturday bath
night and fight night AND Sunday was church day and jelly day,
as we always had a nice sweet tea or cake and jelly which was put on the
cellar steps to set and there was always some ones finger marks on the
top (ha ha)

Elizabeth Sloyan (Barnes)

16th
November 2008

Memories
of David Riley

Many
thanks for such a marvellous web site. Please find attached an old
photo, which I came across in my archives. It is a picture of my
grandfathers’ horse and cart outside his house, No 8 Reservoir
Retreat.

His
name was Joseph Harris and he ran a coal merchants business in Ladywood
for many years. He had a coal yard in Clarke Street and also a small
area of yard at Monument Lane Wharf. I believe the photo was taken in
the early 1960’s. One point of interest, I seem to remember him saying
that he had a great battle with the local Council at some point, they
wanted to remove a horse trough somewhere in Ladywood, the last one left
I believe. However, he battled because his horse liked to drink from it
and would not let them remove it! He was, however the last person to use
horse drawn transport in Ladywood, therefore I can see why the horse
trough never got a lot of use and the Council wanted to remove it!

Please feel free to use this photo on your web site or in any other way
you wish, I am only too glad to contribute something to such a fabulous
project. If I come across any more interesting photos I will gladly
forward them to you for your use in such a great project.

Keep
up the great work.

David
Riley

10th
November 2008

Memories
of Bob Cotton

Hi
there, have just came across your web site and was impressed with how
much content you have of the old quarter.

My
name is Bob Cotton and I am in the process of compiling my family tree
and Bellis Street holds some memories for me as a child. It was great to
see some old photographs of the street that I once played on, I remember
the old lady next door to us, her name was Mrs Tipper, who often gave us
biscuits out of her jar and the shop on Parker Street, we called Wellis.

I
also remember a bookies on the corner of Bellis Street, we lived at
number 19, would love to here from anybody who lived on the street and
see any more photos of these streets.

I
have enclosed a photo of my mom and dad, my three sisters and me, my
other brothers are older and probably had better things to do than
appear on this photo.

Mom
nursed and then married one of the injured soldiers sent to Barnsley
Hall (John Colson) and when he left the army in 1946 ( he ran away
from home at 16 to join up in 1932) No 5 became their home.

Dad
died in April 1947, from his war injuries, when I was 11 months
old, and this picture is that of my Mother (still in Black), older
brother Graham and myself .

Behind
the hedge was a small yard which in later years became the place for our
Bonfires -- until the lady in the 'tarred' house called the Police
because she thought that her house would burn down --- may well have
done because the fires got bigger and bigger!

This
picture (right) is Aunt Jess ( who missed her 100th by just a few
months), Mom and me. Note the smaller building rear left which was
the washhouse for No's 4 and 5. There
was a large copper boiler (hemispherical) with a lid and a 'Dolly'.
A fire was lit under it and the washing 'boiled' and finally passed
through a large 'wringer'.

Behind
the washhouse were three WCs, the middle one was shared between 4 and 5.
There were no lights or heating except from a candle (or the matches
that I used to stick in the holes in the soft mortar) and great care had
to be taken when everything 'iced up.'

The
house was a two up, two down, back to back; the picture of the 'living
room' which was about 10 x 10 shows Mom, me and Ruff who lived with
Aunt Jess. Ruff loved people, hated other dogs but really hated cats. He
would chase the cats up the yard and follow them up and over the fence (
6 foot high) into the garden of the house with the bay window
which was in Marroway Street. The kitchen was very small with a sink (
cold water) a black gas oven and a cupboard. The kitchen window was only
2 foot square but was used by me as a way in and out of the house
when the front door was locked.

The
stairs were behind the kitchen with a cupboard under it, in which the
coal was kept. The only heating was from a coal fire in the living room
and an old small grate in the large bedroom which my brother and I
shared. In the winter there was more frost on the inside of the window
than outside and only if we were ill in bed did Mom bring a shovel of
burning coal from the living room and put it into the old grate. More
than once I put the legs of the bed through the floor while fighting
with Graham and the boards had to be replaced.

This
next picture, the front door with the window decorated for the
Coronation. There where two large screws in the top of the door frame,
from which we could hang a swing ( with the door open !!!) and.
Mom in the garden to No 4, looking down towards Icknield Port Road
and the entrance to the Reservoir. Note the Shelter in the gardens of No's
4 and 3 ( Mr and Mrs Bagley). The shelter had a rusty door without
any windows or lights, but it was the perfect place to brew and
keep the 'ginger beer'. The lamp halfway up the yard was initially a gas
one, but before we left in 1962 it had been changed to electricity. Then
'yard' was about 4 foot wide, perfect for learning to bowl straight but
had an up hill slope towards No 5. It was better to bowl down
towards the Road, but the Lady in the house in Marroway Street, over the
boards, was not very friendly if the ball was hit straight back and
over the fence. The old lead water pipes ran up the yard and were
replaced before we left; ( I wonder how many over the previous 100 years
had had lead poisoning?)

The
Christmas photograph was taken at
Lewis's in (about) 1951.

Normally
I am very much against ID cards, but I found mine today from 1946, note
the difference on the front for 'under 16's.

With
very fond memories of the old house, but, as I look across the fields
towards the Malvern's, I owe everything to Mom, who brought up two boys
with the help of her family, and only a £3 ( £1 a week for 3 weeks) payment
from the army.

A
few more thoughts about the old house.

Mom,
being a nurse, made sure that everything (including me ) was clean and
tidy.

Bath
night could itself be 'the new soap opera' --- the tin bath was
kept outside under the kitchen window and on bath night it was brought
into the living room, behind the front door.

On
top of the old gas stove were pans, full of boiling water, which
had to be carried to the bath -- as each one was emptied into the
bath it was immediately filled with water and put back on the ring,
ready for the next person.

No
need to throw the water away after each bath -- just add some more
boiling water -- and it was your turn! Standing in front of the fire
with a warm towel -- you where soon dry. You would just hope that no one
came to the door during bath night. The bath was emptied using the pans,
or, if not too heavy, it could be pulled out through the front door and
tipped down the drain under the kitchen window. Once a week was enough
-- perhaps we did not get dirty every day -- as we do now !!!!! There
was always the 'stand up' wash in the kitchen -- on a cold morning you
could, if the water was already on the 'boil', quickly do a 'top to
bottom' -- why does it take so long now with warm bathrooms and running
hot water?

When
I was about five I can remember Aunty Pat coming to the door while I was
in the bath. She was an 'adopted Aunt' -- when Dad died many of Mom's
nursing friends from Barnsley Hall became 'adopted Aunts'; so with nine
real Aunts and Uncles and five or six 'Adopted Aunts', there was
always someone to help when needed. Now Pat always came with her big
black dog, Major, a Flatcoated Retriever, and if there is one thing that
this breed likes more than any other -- it is water. The next ten
minutes was the funniest that I can remember, as we all tried to keep
him out of the bath while at the same time he tried to lick all the soap
off me.

Now
Major was our best friend. He lived in Gillott Road in a
house that backed onto the old railway line that ran along the side of
Summerfield Park (where the pictures were taken) --- although sent away
to be trained as a 'Gundog' , he was the best 'ball boy' that ever
was. He could retrieve a tennis ball from the courts in the Park before
the players lost it ! Whenever we heard them coming up the yard we
quickly collected up all our footballs and tennis balls that had
been left all over the garden, and threw them into the back of the
'coal hole' under the stairs. A closed door was is no barrier to a
Flatcoat, he knew were they were, he could smell them! Within a few
minutes he would open the 'coal hole' door, climb in over the coal and
retrieve the balls. Mom would chase him outside, cleaning up his
footprints as she went.

Major
was used by Graham as the power source for moving him and his scooter
along Icknield Port Road ---- until one day Graham went one side of the
lamppost but Major went the other -- resulting in a very bruised rider
and bent scooter. Pat would always take Major with her to the shops; he
would carry a large basket into the Butchers to get it filled with
enough bones to last the week.

When
you are small, memories of 'Big dogs' remain with you for ever, so much
so that I have had more than 25 Flatcoats, 11 of them are asleep in
the house as I write this --- who said that Children are not easily
affected by events!

The
shops near the junction of Icknield Port, Coplow and Summerfield
Crescent included in addition to the Butchers, a Fish and Chip shop (
with battered chips on a Thursday), Cox's the Bakery; the men's Barbers
( Al the barber, was into amateur Boxing but Mom would never let me join
-- in case it spoilt my pretty nose (her words not mine)); the Post
Office together with a few more --- how many are there today?

There
was the Paper Shop at the entrance to the Res' (closed to all
except the Yachting Club -- my first legal entry was to the Street Party
for the Coronation) and an Off-license on the corner of Marroway
Street where you could get 1d or 2d back for the empty Mason's pop
bottles, or get a jug of beer for the 'oldies'.

Entertainment
-- was the radio -- The Goons, Around the Horne, Journey into Space,
Friday Night is Music Night and many more. We did not have a socket in
the bedroom so ( when I was 10 ) I ran a wire from the back of the radio
speaker in the living room to an old radio in the bedroom. It worked a
treat unless Mom went to bed and switched it off downstairs.

TV
-- Gran who lived in Aston had one and as Mom always went there on a
Sunday to cook for them, we always had a big Sunday Dinner and watched
TV in the afternoon. Aunt Jess, next door, had one when ATV started, I
can remember Bob Monkhouse introducing the new channel followed by Robin
Hood. We did not get a TV until we moved to Erdington in 1962; it was
Aunt Jess's old set --- a Bush that lasted for years.

19th
October 2008

Memories
of Alan Tustin

Just
found your site and love it.

I
used to live at 10/177 Icknield Port Road from 1952/1967. My dads name
was John Tustin, nickname ginger; mum’s name was Ivy. Two younger
brothers Dennis and Ronny went to Barford Road School, Dad and Mom used
to drink just over the road from our house, the pub was called the
Bricklayers Arms, its still there.

Dad
used to do all sorts of jobs, one job he had was a rag and bone
man. He used to keep his horse and cart at a stable in George
Street West down Spring Hill; another job he had was sharpening
knives, forks and garden shears, some times he used to take me with
him.

Mum
used to take me and my brothers and our friends to the Crown Picture
House.

Like
a lot of kids we used to go “Guy Fawking”, using younger brother
Ronny as the guy. We also, I believe, used to have the best bonfire
in the street.

Many
a time us and friends used to get over the big wall at the top
of our entry into Summerfield Park, so we did not have to pay when the
fun fair came every year.

Dad
passed away quite young and mum, two years ago, aged 81. Her ashes
were scattered on the bowling green, where it was in Summerfield
Park.

Having just read people’s memories of
Ladywood I thought you may just be interested in some of mine. I was
born Patricia (Pat) Payne in 1936 at 332A Icknield Port Road where I
lived until 1940, when my Aunty Lil (Moore) took it over with her
family.We moved up the
road to No. 1 Wood Street next to the outdoor pub on the corner of St.
Vincent Street where I lived until I married in 1958.I went to St. George’s School in Beaufort Road until 1947 and
then went to Osler Street Girls School until 1951.

My husband Wilf Turner was the youngest son
of the local coal merchants, Turner & Le Marquand, who had a coal
wharf at the bottom of St. Vincent Street and also owned several
magnificent shire horses.He
worked at Cyril’s Cooked Meat Shop in Monument Road opposite St. Johns
Church during the 50’s having taken two years off for National
Service.He attended the
Oratory School in Hyde Road where he lived.I also worked as a ‘Saturday Girl’ in Monument Road at
Philips Baby Shop, which was in the same row of shops as Hickman’s
Green Grocers and the chemist.

I have also come across a distant relative of
mine, Irene Trapp, who I understand now lives in France.Her mother and mine, Daisy Payne, (nee Evans) were cousins.Irene’s grandfather and my grandmother were brother and sister
– William and Annie May Bright.We left Birmingham in 1970 and moved to Gloucester where we
have lived ever since.In
June 2008 we celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary.Wilf’s brother, Stan now lives in Aldridge and my sister Judith
lives near me in Quedgeley, Gloucester.

8th
October 2008

Memories
of Cathleen Loker, nee Taylor

I
was bought up in Ladywood and lived at 2/70 Edward Street. Sandra Ford
was my best friend and we were always together. My mother, Margaret, was
friends with Sandra's mother. I have a brother called John (spud) and
Sandra's brother is Graham.

My
father was Douglas and he used to drink in the Ivy Green pub, usually
only on Friday nights, before he went to the pub I used to go to the
outdoor and get faggots and mushy peas in a jug.....lovely.

I
went to Nelson Street School and then on to Camden Street Girls School,
from where I can remember, Christine Taylor, Barbara Ward (she was mad
on Billy Fury)

Ladywood
was one big playground in those days, we used to play on the canal, at
the Hall of Memory, St. Paul’s Square, Titty Bottle Park, the Reck,
the Bull Ring and anywhere else we fancied. Every Saturday afternoon we
all used to go to the Lyric cinema, I think it was 3d to get in.

I
would love for anyone that would like to get in touch please, please do.
I think I could sit here for hours rambling on......I was born in 1948
and lived in Edward Street until the age of 13, then we had to be
re-housed.

My
Grandma and Granddad had the sweet shop on Hingeston Street;
Granddad also worked for Davenports, their name was Lilley.

When
at Camden Street Girls School we used to go to Icknield Street Boys
School for Square dancing. I remember George Hodgetts but not sure from
where?

Hoping
to hear from someone soon.

Cathleen

Memories
of Karen Pinnock

Hi,
just wondering if you could publish this wedding photograph of my nan
and granddad.

Their
names were Evelyn Doris Sprat and Harold Elliott, I believe they were
married somewhere in Ladywood and then went on to live in Clark Street
with their children, Shirley, Norma, Pauline, Linda, Keith.

I
know Shirley, Norma and Pauline went to Osler Street School, they did
have another child during this time, Maureen, but she died whilst still
young.

I
also believe my granddad was married before for a short time, I would
appreciate any information / memories such like that people may want to
share with me.

I
look forward to your reply with thanks for such a wonderful site

Karen

See
Ladywood Weddings

2nd
October 2008

Memories
of Ivan Millward

I thought you might be interested in
this photograph, it is of a children’s Christmas party around about
1961 and was organised by The Crown pub in Cope Street. It took place at
a social club in Monument Road near the swimming baths.

Regards

Ivan Millward

21st
September 2008

Memories
of Roy Gasby

Hello, my
name is Roy Gasby, my family lived at 108 King Edwards Road.

I
can remember spending many hours in the rec while growing up. I
attended Follet Osler from 1960 to 65, when we had some
really good football and cricket sides.

Looking back we had some fantastic times growing
up in Ladywood and I can look back and think that I was
so lucky to grow up during the 50’s and 60’s
and that kids of today really don’t realise what great times we
had.

If anyone remembers
me, I would be glad to hear from you at roygasby@blueyonder.co.uk

My
family lived at 332 Icknield Port Road we lived two doors away from
Dorothy, we were the Bryan family my mom and dad lived there since 1940.

We
were a large family of twelve children my older sisters were Margaret,
Kathy, Pauline and then me, Frances, the younger sisters were Jenny,
Bernie, Susan, my brothers were Noel and Danny, (the twins), John,
David, Terry.

I
remember the families up our yard they were the Tummies, the Meadins,
the Ingleys. We went to the Oratory RC School until we left to start
work.

Does
Dorothy remember us?

Great
site Mac; hope this little bit of information is helpful.

Yours
Frances Canning, nee Bryan

8th
September 2008

Memories
of Bev Slaughter

I
browsed through your excellent Ladywood website and it brought back many
memories. My father, Cyril Slaughter, owned a grocers shop just up from
Ledsam Street/Icknield Square on the right hand side.

There
was a cobbler's on the corner of Icknield Square, run by Bill Swift and
next to it (if I remember correctly) was George Baines, the baker. Then
there was another shop then my father's, with the Inner Circle 8 bus
stop outside.

In
the 50's my mother (still living, now in Norfolk) ran the small café at
the back of the shop. It was full at lunchtime with workers from Bellis
& Morcom.

I
was roped in on Saturdays (when I would much rather have been elsewhere)
to make candy floss. Dad had a machine almost in the shop window and I
had to stand there making candy floss with sugar and a purple colourant,
which I dropped into a funnel in the centre of a spinning drum. The
floss then came whizzing out and stuck to the side of the drum. I had to
whisk a stick round and collect the floss.

When
I was not working in the shop, my brother Tony and I used to get on the
No. 8 bus and spend a couple of hours on the top deck at the front,
going round the Inner Circle.

I
remember being a member of the ABC Minors at the Edgbaston cinema at the
top of Monument Road and occasionally, I went to the cinema in Icknield
Port Road, but I can't remember what its name was.

I
spent many a happy hour train spotting at Monument Lane station. As you
approached the bridge past Stan Smith's shop on the corner of Icknield
Square, there was a small door in the brickwork. If you went through it
there was a steep slope; the canal was on the left and Monument Lane
station ahead. My brother and I used to sit on the bridge abutments and
watch the LMS expresses race to and from New Street.

There
was also an old 0-6-0 LMS engine in the goods yard; it was called 'Old
Boner' and it chugged back and forwards in the yard, sometimes coming
under the road bridge and into the station. Occasionally it would puff
off up the line and along the Harborne branch near Dudley Road.

Sometimes,
the man who owned the timber yard on the other side of the tracks would
let us into his yard and we would climb up on a pile of sawn timber and
sit watching the trains and the 'Pines Express' hurtle through.

Does
anyone remember the 'dipping duck' that sat in the front of a shop
window further up Monument Road? It was a bird with a long tube as a
neck and a glass bubble at the bottom. It sat in front of a beaker of
water and periodically it would pivot frontward and dip its beak in the
water, as if drinking. After a few seconds it would lean back and wait
for a couple of minutes before the whole process started again. I still
don't know how that works!!!

Memories
of CM, Shropshire

We
lived on the fringe of the city, away from the more industrialised and
densely populated areas, which were most at risk, and so I was not part
of the 1939 or 1940 evacuation of children from Birmingham (in fact I
had never even heard of the term "evacuees" until the summer
of 1941 when I was five-and-a-half).

By the summer of 1941 when Hitler’s attentions were focused firmly to
the East and we were no longer alone, intensive aerial bombardment and
the risk of invasion had both reduced, at least temporarily. My father
decided that we should try to get a holiday. Since the mid-1930s, and
before I was born, the family had stayed at a farm in the South Hams of
Devonshire, an area between Torbay and Plymouth, at that time remote and
sleepy and little changed in the previous one hundred years. So off
there my mother, sister and I went, to be joined a few days later by my
father and elder brother, abandoning their work and Home Guard
responsibilities for a short while for the attractions of rest, fresh
air and unrationed food. How lucky we all were to have a holiday at that
time.

We were not the only guests at Keynedon Mill on this visit. There were
three boys there too. Bob was probably a year or so older than I; he had
an elder brother of 10 or 11 whose name I can’t remember and so I
shall call him Billy; and the head of this family was the eldest, named
I think Frank, a remote, grown-up fellow of 15 or 16 whom one saw only
rarely. I was told that they came from a part of Birmingham called
Ladywood and had been sent here to avoid the bombing. I hadn’t heard
of this place before but I was struck by what a nice name it was and had
visions of dense foliage and grassy, sunlit clearings. The boys lived in
a large, white-washed single room, the loft either of the main house or
of one of the outbuildings. They ate with the farmer’s family, at a
large table in the entrance hall of the farmhouse. I still have a vision
of them sitting there as we passed through to our own room. The meal was
presided over by the commanding presence of Mrs. Cummings, a lady of
great antiquity - possibly in her late forties - and with a frightening
cane lying ready to hand; this was of sufficient length to reach the
younger boys seated further down the table in case they required any
guidance.

I imagine that Bob and Billy attended the local school in the nearby
tiny village of Sherford but it was August and so they were on holiday.
Frank on the other hand seemed to be engaged the whole time on farm
duties and I know that he got up at some ungodly hour every morning to
fetch the cattle for milking. I didn’t see much of Billy and can’t
say whether he had his own list of duties but I played a lot with Bob
who seemed to have plenty of freedom.

In later years I have often pondered on the mystery of how those three
lads ended up in such a remote spot, so far from home. I don’t know
whether they were part of the September 1939 evacuation although they
probably were. It seemed strange that they were sent such a long way
from home from where their parents – assuming they had any – would
have found it almost impossible to visit them. And when the threat of
invasion loomed from the middle of 1940, lodgings only a mile or two
from the South Coast, even so far west, would not have seemed to be the
safest of locations. I can imagine them being shepherded on to a train
at Snow Hill, labelled and carrying a small package of their possessions
and of course their gas mask, as they embarked on the daylong journey
into the complete unknown. Memoirs of children in this situation, some
of who had never been out of their cities or on a train before, speak of
the wonders of the journey. And so I imagine our trio, gazing out of the
window at an ever-changing tableau of meadow and woodland, cornfields
and unfamiliar farm animals as they trundled south. In their compartment
excitement and wonder at the unfamiliar sights must have been intense
but later, as the day progressed and tiredness started to overcome them,
that would have been replaced by apprehension and even fear about what
faced them. They would have passed through Bristol and Exeter, perhaps
changing trains, perhaps seeing, every now and again, many of their
companions leaving the train at intermediate stops. Finally they would
have alighted at South Brent and clambered aboard a little two-coach
train for the last leg of their long journey. A diminutive GWR tank
engine would have hauled them down the branch line through the rolling
countryside of pastures and red Devonshire earth, where the hedgerows
and line-side trees would have seemed close enough to lean out and
touch. Quite soon they would have reached their destination, and the
very last station, Kingsbridge. What an alien world it must have seemed
as they got off the train and looked around them, at milk churns and
empty cattle pens, the end of a line which stretched all the way back to
the bustle and soot of Snow Hill. And yet they still had another four or
five miles to go, almost certainly this time by horse and cart in the
gathering dusk, through small villages and finally turning off the road
at Frogmore down a lane just wide enough to allow their passing.

Nor do I know how long they stopped at Keynedon. Early in 1944 the farm
and the surrounding area was itself evacuated at short notice when the
US Army took over the nearby stretch of coast and adjacent countryside
as a training ground for the landings on Utah beach. The Cummings family
moved with all their livestock into tiny premises in Frogmore. They were
still there in August 1945 when we visited them. But the boys weren’t
and of course I wasn’t interested enough to ask after them. I have
often wondered what happened to them and how much their time in
Devonshire, with all its fresh air and healthy food but remoteness from
loved ones and familiar city surroundings, affected their later life.
And just how that clash of totally different cultures, inner city
industrial Birmingham and remote, agricultural Devonshire worked, day
in, day out.

My friendship with Bob came to an abrupt and unhappy end. The facilities
in the farmhouse were basic in the extreme – candles and oil lamps; an
outside pump for water and, inside, ewers and china gesunders in place
of any plumbing; and the main lavatory a fruity, fly-blown, wooden
structure containing an earth closet and sheets of newspaper. The latter
was conveniently located out of the front door, along the lane a few
yards, up some steps cut into the earth bank and across a short stretch
of grass to near the waterwheel. I was strictly prohibited from going
anywhere near it with the mysterious threat of “diphtheria” being
muttered, as it always was when anything vaguely unhealthy was being
discussed. Bob and I were playing near the waterwheel one day, feeding
ducks with white berries plucked from a nearby bush. Getting bored with
this, although the ducks weren’t, we decided to investigate the little
house. And not only that, but to leave our visiting card there too. All
of this was of course great fun. But somehow or other the incident came
to the notice of my parents and, probably with a bit of assistance from
me, Bob got the blame for initiating this crime. It must have been
decided that he was not a suitable companion for me and I never played
with him again. Nor after our departure ever heard anything further
about him. I hope that he had a good life and that he always remembered,
as I still do, a sunny day in Devonshire nearly 70 years ago, a flock of
greedy white ducks and a smelly old hut on the edge of a meadow by a
waterwheel.

CM,
Shropshire

2nd
September 2008

Memories
of Allan Smallman

In
the early seventies (1972/73), my father George Smallman, was the
caretaker of Wells Tower in Rodney Close, and together with a chap
called Ken Gibbins (who was the caretaker at St Johns Primary School)
set up a local football team called Ryland Star (so named as Ryland
Motors, which was situated at the bottom of St Johns' football pitch in
Ledsam Street agreed to sponsor them and gave a generous amount of money
to help buy their football kit).

The
kit was a replica of the old Manchester City 'all blue' with diagonal
white and red stripes. They attracted so many youngsters who used
to turn up to practice on the school playing fields, that they had to
form a second team called Ryland Boys, who used to wear the Ajax of
Amsterdam colours.

Both
teams played in the same league (the 2nd city Boys League) which meant
that there was always friendly rivalry between schoolmates. They
were both drawn together in the league's 'Major' Cup and the leg was
played out at Perry Hall Park, where Star (after having gone behind to
their 'second team') eventually came back to win 3 -1. Star went
on to win the competition, and also the league, and five-a-side
competitions, and indeed were unbeatable for a couple of seasons.

At
one time the team included Brendan Ormsby, the ex-Villa and Leeds player
in their ranks. Later they went on to play all their home games at
Selwyn Road.

I
wonder if anyone has any pictures of the team or at least memories of
having watched or played in the games held on the playing field in Gilby
Road? Especially since so many kids played for the two teams.

Hopes
this jogs a few memories.

Cheers

Alan
Smallman

Memories
of Joe Brown

I
have just discovered the Ladywood Website and am amazed.

I
lived in Friston Street in around 1931, born 1926. Started at St Georges
when I was 5 years old.

Absolutely
wonderful to see the pictures of Friston Street; I think we lived at
No.51 or 53, the one picture shows a shop and I am positive it was 2
doors up the street, but we had a gas lamp outside house and that is not
in the picture. I do have a picture somewhere here of me with my Dad on
the doorstep and I think the number of the house is in view on the
picture. Going to start looking for it tomorrow.

Cheers
Old Brummy, I will be writing in to the site as soon as I find out
how

Cheers

Joe
Brown

Memories
of John Madden

First
of all thanks for a brilliant site keeps me engrossed for hours i grew
up around Ladywood and surrounding districts and have some fantastic
memories of schools people and places and will get in touch soon.

The
photograph that Keith asks about was taken outside of a pub called the
Shakespeare Arms that was on the corner of Heath Street and Winson Green
Road. The cameraman is pointing his lens up Heath Street towards the
junction with Dudley Road.

If
you were to turn left at that corner you would end up walking past the
hospital and eventually end up on spring hill. If however you crossed
over the road at that corner you would find yourself on Northbrook
Street and your back in Ladywood. Walk up Northbrook Street on your left
the canal and Railway [many hours of fun] you would then come to Coplow
Street then Marroway Street and then would have to turn into Wiggin
Street and that’s where I lived as a youth I went to Barford Road
Junior School and then went to Follet Osler, till it closed, so as you
can tell, your site especially the photos, brings back a lot of
memories. Keep up the great work I tell every one I know about this site
[even if they don’t come from the old end] be in touch soon.

John

28th
August 2008

Memories
of Doreen Nash

As I have just turned 70 years
old, I would like to share my memories of 10/50 Browning Street, which
my family and I used to call our yard Rose Avenue, others called it
“muck alley”, ha ha and it was. I lived opposite Frenchies, if
anyone out there remembers me being the pawn shop girl, the babysitter
and the cleaner, it would be nice to hear from you, email me at darts501up@blueyonder.co.uk.
We moved to Shakespeare Road, Alexandra Street.

Doreen
Nash

17th
August 2008

Memories
of Dorothy Clarke

As
I approach my 60th Birthday on 31st July on
digging out my Birth Certificate for
proof of age/pension purposes I decided to try to track down the place
of my birth.

I
was born at The Poplars Nursing Home, 66 South Road, Smethwick, which I have
discovered is now an elderly persons nursing home but cannot find any photographs.

My
father, Stanley Joseph Parker, was born on 1st September 1910
in Smethwick and lived at Hume Street,
I believe at No. 13. His father was Joseph
Parker and I only know his mother as Betsy Gertrude (Leaning I think) who died at age 45. He had a brother, Frederick married to Daisy and they
had one daughter, Margaret, They continued to live in Hume Street
until we lost touch in the early
1970s. Dad died 16th September 1979.

As
I remember Dad attended Smethwick Tech and worked for Wiggin Nickel Alloys
at Wiggin Street in Birmingham where he was either in the Home Guard
or A.R.P. during the War.

Mum,
Olive May Lees, was born in Birmingham on 7th April 1916 but
was brought up in Smethwick where her
Mother and Father, Alfie and Olive Lees, kept
the Robinson Crusoe Pub during the 1920/30s. I do have a photograph of
my Grandfather standing in the doorway of the pub and another of my Nan and
Grandfather behind the bar.I
cannot find much information on this pub only
some mention of a football team and I know there was a football connection
back in mum's day with talk of the FA Cup going missing in the area.
Nan died in 1977 and my Grandfather died when mum was 19. Mum attended
Osier Street School, Ladywood. She also used to mention The Outdoor'
(an off licence) but I don't know whether this was attached to The Robin
or a separate establishment. She worked at Scribbans' Bakery.

She
and Dad married on 3rd July 1937 at Ladywood Church and I
have several
photographs of the occasion, and lived at 31 Trevanie Avenue, Quinton.
Alan Ralph was born in 1940, John Edmund in 1946 both somewhere
in Birmingham and me, Jill Rosalind. Dad moved to Hereford in 1952
to help set up Henry Wiggin & Co and the rest of the family followed
in 1953.

Mum
now aged 92, has recently moved into a nursing home in Herefordshire and
while she suffers short term memory problems, her long term memory is often
quite sharp. However she tires easily and I am unable to get too much from
her. She still reads so I am trying to gather information together to
give her something of interest to read.

As
I retire next week hopefully I shall have the time to upload the
photographs I have.

If
you or your correspondents have any information on the above mentioned
establishments, particularly photographs, perhaps they could make
contact with me through your website.

With
thanks and best regards

Jill
Evans

Memories
of John Healey

I'm
not sure whether I qualify but although I was brought up in Weoley
Castle, I went to the Five Ways Grammar School from 1952-1957.

Amongst
the many things that we were forbidden to do was to use the local shops
to buy sweets or chips, an offence punishable by a Saturday morning
detention. Many disobeyed however and a regular trip for me was to a
shop, which sold home made ice-lollies for 2d. I can't remember the
street name, but we turned left into Ladywood Road and then right where
the shop was.

The
school wall was shared with the Police Station stables and many boys
shinned up it to look at the horses.

Many
people in Weoley Castle came from inner city areas and brought the
street games with them. 'Kerb or wall', 'Molly on the mopstick', 'Farmer
Farmer', 'Kick the can' being amongst many such games that as a child I
played in traffic free roads.

John
Healey

12th
August 2008

Memories
of George Hodgetts

This
photo was taken approx.1962 at the Railway Club which was on the corner
of St. Vincent Street and Sheepcote Street, they were all local folk.

I
met you the other Sunday at the Raddison Hotel, I gave you a
black & white photo taken of a group of children and adults at my
5th birthday party.

You
asked me to send any memories I had of Cope Street in the 50s & 60s.

My
name is Charlie Sharp, I lived at the newsagents shop next to The Crown
Public House from 1951, until it was demolished in 1965. My mother who
owned the shop, was known to everyone as Dolly Glaze.

I
went to Steward Street school, when the headmaster was a Mr. Cowling,
then after he left it was Mrs Jones. Living in Cope Street were the
happiest days of my life and I would love to hear from anyone who
remembers me and my family.

The
photo above, which was taken at my 5th birthday party, when my mother
hired 2 coaches to take local kids and some of their parents to a school
in Great Barr where the party took place. I would love to put names to
faces if anyone recognises themselves and for them to contact me.

I
really look forward to seeing your web page every time you update it.
Keep up the good work, you always bring happy memories back to me when I
log on Regards to you and your family, Charlie Sharp.

Memories
of Ken Bibb

I
am an ex Brummie living in Australia and have been here since 1969.

When I reached here I had a job in the steelworks at Port Kembla, I do
not have any photo's, but in our rolling mill there was an old Bellis
& Morcom steam shears for cutting red hot steel billets when coming
out of the furnace.

Just
a bit of trivia.

Cheers Ken Bibb ex Handsworth

Memories
of Marie

I
am a novice at all this, but I would like to tell you a few memories of
my upbringing in Ladywood. I was born Marie Hill in 1954, my father
Norman Hill, mother Joan Hill.

I
had a brother Ronnie and a sister Susan. We lived in a back-to-back
house 1 back of 22 Clement Street, Ladywood. I attended Nelson Street
School and Mr. England was my headmaster.

Clement
Street in 1962

People
I remember at school were Stanley Hope, Denise Mackey, Leslie Wood,
memory not so good now. Neighbours I remember were the Poole family,
Gwen and Jack, children Alan, Stephen, Malcolm and Karen, they moved to
Redditch. Also the Hill, family same surname as us but not related.
Sandra was one of the girls; then there was the Hollier family, I
remember the house very well, long narrow kitchen, small living room, a
cellar, 2 bedrooms.

Happy
memories, would like to hear off anyone who can remind me of my happy
childhood. We moved to Kingstanding in January 1964, hope to hear soon

Regards

Marie
- FANTASTIC SITE

Memories
of Steve

My
name is Steve and I used to live at 2/35 Barker Street, me and my
brothers went to Nelson Street School.

I
can only remember my teachers name was Mrs. Price, I also remember the
Sand Pits by the school this is because my brother David fell of them,
he survived.

Steve

Memories
of Nick Cook

I
worked for Ryland Garage in the early sixties and have happy memories of
those times.

Remember
well the cake shop opposite the garage entrance in Ryland Street when
the lady owner dropped a cake dusted off and sold it to you.

Regards

Nick
Cook

Memories
of Brian John Bunker

I
have been tracing my family and the 1891 + 1901 Census showed them
living in Bellis Street.

1891
Census said 2 Back 35 Bellis Street.

1901
Census said 2 Monument Square Bellis Street.

Could
never find Monument Square, until a family picture turned up, I include
a picture in this email and send it separately - a clearer picture

The
family that lived there were Dixon - my Grandmother was Minnie
Dixon, who married John Standley - who I believe came from Johnstone
Street.

Picture
shows (Minnie) May Standley with her grand children - with Monument
Square above

So
Monument Square must be down that alley way

Brian
John Bunker

7th
July 2008

Memories
of Roger Humphreys

My
family moved from Hockley Brook (Guest Street) during 1945, I was then
18 months old.

I
attended Steward Street School, my house was opposite to the
school, the mission hall as we called it was next door, then Dennis
Black the blacksmith.

As
kids we used to hitch rides from the British Rail horse and carts as
they went to load up.

We
played marbles in the road then, as well as spinning fag cards against
the wall and then spanning them, if your finger and thumb touched 2
cards you won them, then there was hide and seek, tig, and what we
called rounders, and many more games, all played in the road.

As
lads we kept an old mattress rolled and tied by the side of Spring Hill
canal and we would take it in turns to float over the canal to the
barges, untie one and so many of us would pull the barge and so many
would ride on it, the times we got chased I couldn’t count, but what
fun it was.

The
guys I grew up with were John Taylor, John Gibbons, Peter Moran, Billy
Griffiths and David Haywood. I left Steward Street School and
then attended Barford Road School in 1955. We played football in
Summerfield Park, on a gravel pitch, ohhhh those knees. I soon
found new friends at Barford Road, namely Teddy Smith, Freddie Jones,
John Landon. I remember John’s dad when he just had a little lockup in
Steward Street, then he had the cafe on the corner as his business grew,
I used to call for John to walk to school.

Mr.
Landon's cafe and shop

I
left Steward Street in 1957 and moved to Rickman Drive which ran along
Bellbarn Road, and attended St. Thomas’s School, I then started work,
serving my time as a bricklayer, met a girl married her and bought my
first house in Bromsgrove, and I’m still there. The world is a
different place now, I tell my kids of the life I had as a kid, they sit
and listen in fascination.

My
name is Roger Humphreys, I often wonder, is there anyone left that
remembers me.

This
is a brilliant site, I’ve read it many time over and it takes me back
to times I will never forget, thanks to everyone that’s put time into
building this site up, please keep it going.

Memories
of Ken Richards

Hi,
my name is Ken Richards, my Parents were George and Lilly, we lived at
14 Leslie Road (round the corner from the Reservoir). Looking back over
the years spent in Ladywood I have had many happy memories, although
times were harder then than they are today.

Leslie
Road looking from Hagley Road

I
attended Follett Osler (1954-1962), the teachers of the day were, Mrs.
Ray (juniors) Mr. Roberts (History), Mr. Francis (3a). I remember the
Christmas show we put on KIDS( the main line being –what’s the
matter with kids to-day) voted best performance in the whole
school.

This
is a photo of myself (Derek Godwin) and a friend outside 44/46 Ruston
Street, Ladywood, also known as Ruston Street Fruit Market, circa
1951.

I
have no idea who the girl is, but I think she lived close to the shop.

Is
there anyway to find her name?

My
sister still lives in Harborne but she doesn't know either.

Derek
(down under)

Memories
of June King

My
name is June King (nee Millichamp).

I was wondering if anyone remembers the coffee house in Monument Road,
it was opposite
the baths. My husband’s father kept it, his name was Wal King.

He used to sell penny dips to the children coming out of the swimming
baths.

I also remember my old friends Joyce Westward and Sylvia Hardy, I would
love to hear from them.

bye for now, June King

Memories
of Brenda Murphy

I
have just been reading Memories of our Street on the Old Ladywood
website. The memories from Carole Thacker reminded me that I knew
her sister Barbara and used to go to school with her, I wonder if
Barbara remembers me?

I
also remember the Nash family, particularly Freddie and Doreen, who
were my age.

It
is lovely to read their stories, as it brings back so many
happy memories of my childhood in Browning Street. I lived
with my parents and my sister, Pauline, at number 31, next door to W.T.
French.

I
think the friend of Freddie Nash was probably Alfie Waterhouse, whose dad
was a coalman.

The
meeting place for us was the high step belonging to W. T. French, where
we would stand and talk most evenings when we were growing up.

I
wonder if they remember the Stowe family, the Stokes family, Sidney
Swain, Billy and Margaret Kerrin, to name but a few.

Brenda
Murphy (nee Leonard)

Memories
of Bellis Street

Hi,
I just discovered your site and was so excited to see Bellis Street
mentioned.

I
was born there in 1953, I wonder if anyone remembers our family, Mum
& Dad - Mary & George Bywater.

Kids
-Freddy, Georgie, Sandra, Ken, Carol & Jean.

We
left there in 1957/8 to live in Stechford.

Here
are a few photo's that someone may recognise, please
feel free to e-mail me.

My
name is Barbara Jones (nee Holtom) and I was born in Springfield Street
in 1937.

I
attended Steward Street School from 1942 until 1947 and worked at the
Advanced Factory until I married in 1958.

I
have lived in Stratford upon Avon since 1958 with my husband Eddie and
we have two daughters Sian and Linda (Boo) and three grandsons Sam Jack
and Max.

I
would love to hear or contact anyone who worked at the Advanced Factory
or anyone who lived in the vicinity of Springfield Street and I would
especially be so pleased to make contact with Rose Evans featured
on this website.

Barbara
Jones

Memories
of Mrs. G. Pittam

I
am an eighty six year old woman who was born just round the corner from
Sun Street in Bellbarn Road.

Sun
Street started at from the corner of Spring Spring Street and ran down
to the Bristol Road. In Sun Street there was the rag and bone shop
called Charley Key's, we used to take rabbit skins to him for an old
sixpence each and our old rags for a few pence.

Sun
Street

Also,
next door to this shop, was a sort of electrical shop, in his window was
a television, very tiny and you could hardly see the picture and that
must have been about 1930.

Mrs
G Pittam

Memories
of Colin Mills

Happier
days of yesteryear in 1955, I joined Davenports "Beer at
Home" as a Driver Salesman in Bath Row, Holloway Head, which was a
leading Company in the Brewing Industry that conceived the delivery to
the homes, order today and delivered convenient weekly for customers.

The
workforce in bottling department was all local females that lived in
Cregoe Street, Ledsam Street,Irving
Street, Grant Street, Great Colmore Street, and passer-bys could see them
working and hear them singing.

The
Driver Salesmen came from all Districts of Birmingham. My fellow mates
were Arthur Lilley, Hockley; George Hopkins, All Saints; Alf Heath, Great
Barr; Malcolm Jones, Bearwood and myself, with one outstanding celebrity
named Charlie Roden, that lived in Gregoe Street, that had size fourteen
EX-Army boots and was street wise.

The
day rate of pay was 26/- shillings and any shortages of collection you had
to make good. Whilst carrying out the job, you made many friends and had
happy times.My reason for
the story was that a Walsall Brewery had bought the recipes of the fine
ales that was brewed.

The
Management of Mr Silvey; wines & sprits, Mr Daniels"; Beer at
Home" were a pleasure to work with. The area of these happy times and
has changed with all the new housing development.

ANY
EX-SALES DRIVERS STILL ABOUT CONTACT ME ON THE WEB

COLIN
MILLS

Memories
of Dave Wood

What
a fantastic site you have produced and it is such an interesting read.

I
guess I am like so many of the people visiting your site, who do
not contribute (until now) but find it so rewarding.

I
lived in Ladywood from 1949-1968 at 14 and later at 1/13 Barker
Street.

I
can remember playing football and cricket at the 'Wreck' for hours
and hours. Playing football outside Mosley Bros using the lamposts for
the goal area. Train spotting at the Steps!! Happy Days.

I
attended Osler Street school with may happy memories and went on to be
an Apprentice for Bellis & Morcom and ended up a Foreman in the 'Tubine
Shop' where I was responsible for the assembly of Nordberg
Crushers. I met my future wife Yvonne at Bellis's and am, still
married after 38 years.

I
came across and old school photo of the winning Osler Street
Cricket Team dating 1963 where we won the Birmingham Schools Cricket
Intermediate Shield. I hope you find it interesting.

Finally,
thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to your site and
say hello to anyone who remembers me!

Regards

Dave
Wood

Memories
of Harry D'Silva

Here's
a photo of the D'Silva family of 34 Coxwell Road.

Back
row left to right--Olive, Marina, Maureen.

Front
row--- Teresa, Julius and Harry.

Our
youngest sister Edith was born later.

Our
mum was the beautiful Gladys and dad, the handsomeChrysosthomas.

We
all attended the Oratory Infant and Junior School.

Regards
to all past residents of the Ladywood Kingdom.

Harry
D'Silva

Memories
of Janette Waldron

What
a wonderful site. My brother in law, Keith Norgrove, gave me the
details and it is so interesting to browse.

My
name was Janette Slim (I was also known as Guppy) and lived at 61
Clark Street from 1946 to 1953 and I attended Osler Street School.

61
Clark Street, was a general grocery and sweet shop, right opposite
the school entrance and pupils used to come in for 1d ice lollies, which
were home made. My sister Jean and I used to make them on a
Wednesday evening, whilst my mother and step-father used to visit the
Crown Cinema. The shop may be remembered as written on the window
was "M A Guppy" which children used to laugh about and call it
Ma Guppy's.

Osler
Street School gave me an excellent grounding in education and I remember
two teachers in particular: Mr Davies, who taught the top class of
the Juniors and Gillian Lee, who taught the Senior Girls. Another
excellent teacher was Miss Butler, who taught English in the Senior
School.

There
are several people I remember: Margaret Coleman who passed to 11+ and
went to George Dixon Grammar School. She was my best friend and I
went to Brownies with her as well as sitting beside her at the top of
the class. Mary Girling was another friend: she lived near the
chip shop towards the top end of the street. Tommy, Kenny and
Deidre Jones who lived in Reservoir Road, and Jean Latham who is the
knight in armour shown on the Coronation photos. The little girl
in glasses is Lynne Walsh or maybe Welsh, daughter of Renee (see
Memories of Keith Norgrove, below)

We
left in 1953 and went to live in Warstock where my parents ran a
greengrocery store.

Happy
days.

I
now live in Dorset.

Janette
Waldron

Memories
of David Allen

My
name is David Allen and I was born in 1947.

I
lived in King Edward Road, near Stewart Street school, which I attended
till the age of eleven.

The
shop in the background of the photo is the drapers shop, Allibones, I am
the one standing by the pram, my sister Cathleen is the baby in the pram,
the small boy at the back by the gate is my cousin Ronald Steadman.

D.
Allen

Memories
of Roy Gasby

My
name is Roy Gasby. I have just picked up your web site and it has
brought back so many memories. We lived at 108 King
Edward Road, I went to Nelson Street school then onto Osler Street
school in 1960.

Only
when you get older do you realise what a great time we had growing
up in Ladywood. My mother worked at Bulpitts and is still alive and
has many happy memories, keep up the good work on a wonderful site.

Roy
Gasby

Photograph
show Bulpitts, looking along Spring Hill

Memories
of Eileen Bode

I
have just found this picture of my sister Sheila, when she was going to
Betty Fox's dance studio on Bristol Road. We were still living in Gt.
Tindal Street.

My
mom was housekeeper for Betty Fox.

My
sisters and I had to take it in turns to be first up to light the fire
and get breakfast, as mom was out of the house at about 6am to get to
Miss Fox's to get the pantomime babe's up!

Eileen
Bode

Memories
of Raymond Fortey

My
name’s Raymond Fortey, thanks for publishing my piece about where I
lived in Ladywood. I forgot to mention that I was in 2 companies of the
Boys Brigade, the 8th and the 92nd. I spent most of the time in the
92nd, we went to Switzerland in 1960 or 61.

Had
a great time, played in the football team although I wasn’t very good,
but the team was. When we were in Switzerland, we played 3 football
matches against a German Christian Youth team, wining 2 matches to 1,
can any remember that trip.

Mac,
keep up the good work.

Raymond
Fortey

Memories
of Ivan Barnsley

Hello
Mac. I remember how I used to have to work to get tuppence to go
to the Crown on Saturday's. I would take 5-gallon drum from the
fish-shop in Gt. Tindal Street down to have it filled with cooking
oil and back to the fish-shop. This would earn me a penny. Then knocked
on doors for errands. I often fetched a barrow of coal from Icknield
Port Road and take the barrow back. This would get me another
penny. Any other errands could get me another halfpenny or more.
Wow, I could now go to he Crown and take some sweets. If any
of the lads could not get enough money the others would go in
and open the toilet window for the others to crawl through.

On
another occasion getting exited with the film I hammered my feet on
the back of the seat in front and burst the panel out. The girl in the
seat was Connie Hollicks who went to fetch the Manager. I
scarpered in to the toilet and got out the way I got in - through the
window. I missed the Gene Autry film that
day, but they were happy times.

Kind
regards, Ivan Barnsley

30th
March 2008

Memories
of Rita Roberts

Hello,
my name is Rita, I have been browsing through your Ladywood site and
recalling all the places I used to go as a young girl such as Monument
Road Swimming Baths, The Saturday morning cinema we used to call the
tuppeny crush, and when older, The Tower Ballroom.

I
lived firstly in Owen Street, off Bath Row, but later moved to Cleve
Terrace, which was opposite the accident hospital, and further from the
hospital was the Beer at Home 'DAVENPORTS'.

However,
I think where I lived came under Edgbaston, but letters were usually
addressed as Ladywood, Edgbaston, Birmingham 15, so my enquiry is
would it be possible to extend your site into Edgbaston.

Somebody
on your site mentioned Piggott Street School, well I lived opposite that
school when living in Cleve Terrace. My name is Rita Penzer so if anyone
remembers me I would like to hear from them, by the way I now live in
Crete.

Owen
Street

Your
site is very nostalgic and I enjoyed reading everyone's memories.

Regards
Rita

19th
March 2008

Memories
of Pat and Eric Drew

This
is a photograph of my Dad, Charles Read at Edgbaston Reservoir August
8th 1984. Age 71

The
Big wheel taken in Edgbaston Reservoir, year unknown

This
is my sister-in-Law at 9/19 Osler Street

Memories
of Keith and Sandra Norgrove (nee Guppy)

Some
pictures of my wife and family. Her name is Sandra Guppy and her mother
Mary and father Fred owned the shop in Clark Street, opposite the
school.

Her
stepsister was Janet Slim, do not know the friends names. The tall girl
is Janet dressed as a pirate for the Coronation in 1953, do not know the
friends name.

Sandra
(my wife) is dressed as the fairy with the wings and also sang the
Golden Coach song at the Coronation at the school. We think the girl
dressed as a knight in armour is named Jean Latham.

The
man holding the baby is Fred Guppy (my Father-in-law) and the baby is now my
wife, picture taken in 1947 outside the shop in Clark Street (no. 61) the
other pictures were round the back of the shop.

Regards
Keith Norgrove

Memories
of Keith Norgrove

This
is a picture of my Mother (Millie Norgrove) Leslie Road, her sister
(Lilly Read) Coxwell Road and Lilly's husband Charlie Read taken in
the Mount Pleasant Working Man's Club in Reservoir Road

Regards
Keith Norgrove

This
picture is of my cousin Ray Read and myself in

Leslie
Road in the early 50s

Memories
of Connie Bode

Hi
Mac!

Bowsing
through your site 1 see an item from one the Harts.

I
remember Kate & Len Hart were very good friends of my mom and dad
they lived in Browning Street and then moved to Alston Street in
the next yard to us not long after we left Great Tindal Street.

Remember
Billy Edkins, he used to come to our house when we were in Great Tindal
Street and was at some of the bonfires we had up our yard.
He went out with my older sister Margaret once or twice.

Remember
the Waterhouse's, they did have a coal business, Beatie was friends with
my sister Sheila and Barbara Howard, who lived in the next yard to us in
Great Tindal Street, Mrs Jones lived in the front house of the Howard's
she used to take in sewing.

Barbara
Howard used to go to the roller rink in Walford Road with me, it was
were we both met our husbands.

I
have seen Beatie on the bus once or twice as she lives somewhere in
Yardley.

I
love going through your site as brings back memories good and bad, must
admit the good ones stay in my memory, we had a lot of happy times.

Regards
Connie Bode (nee Eileen Curley).

13th
March 2008

Memories
of Bob Heath

Have
found the web site through the Birmingham History website forum.

What
a great site you have, extremely interesting and really good to jog the
memory banks. I found the photos of the old houses and shops very
interesting, but haven’t yet seen one of the house/shop where we
lived.

I
was born at Dudley Road Hospital and lived with my parents initially at
Copthall Road, Handsworth (with grandmother), but in 1950 (when I was
about 3 years old) my Mom & Dad moved to 263 St. Vincent Street and
mom ran a drapery shop from there. They only stayed at St. Vincent
Street for a couple of years, but my earliest memories are of my time at
the shop. My Mom & Dad are Harry & Betty Heath.

I
remember an empty ground area to the left of the shop – when viewing
from the road (probably a bomb site) where I occasionally ran around.

Also
I remember mom taking me out on the street one day because Princess
Elizabeth was due to pass down St. Vincent Street as part of her tour of
Birmingham. I don’t remember much about the Princess but do remember
the crowds along the street.

Thanks
once again for such a great website and service for Brummies.

Regards,

Bob
Heath

St.
Vincent Street, 1964

6th
March 2008

Memories
of Raymond Fortey

I
was born 12th February 1948 in the same house as my mother, 7 Sheepcote
Lane, my Grandmother Anne Cash moved there in 1910. My sisters Brenda,
Pamela and brother Stephen were also born in the same house, apart from
my brother we attended St Peters school near Broad Street.

In
1958 we moved to Rann Street, I attended the Oratory school, I
moved to Follet Osler for the last four years of my schooling, I also
sung in the choir at St Johns Church. In 1960 we moved to St Marks
Street and in 1962, we moved to Kitts Green. I continued to attend
Follet Osler leaving on the 5th of April 1963.

Rann
Street

Raymond
Fortey

20th
February 2008

Memories
of the Hart Family

I
was just looking at your Memories of our Street page and the first
picture I saw shocked me.

Memories
of the Nash’s family from Browning Street - I remember that family
when I was a kid, I remember Tommy Nash and Johnny Nash and their sister
Doreen Nash, I remember she was older than me.

My
family were the Harts of Browning Street, Bessie and Jack Hart, my
brothers are Ronnie and Tony and my sister are Barbara and Jean. I
am Carole Hart and I was born in that street, so I'm going back a lot of
years, I wonder if anyone else remembers my family.

I
remember we had to go up a long narrow entry, pass the smelly miskins to
where we lived, I can’t remember anything about the house we lived in,
but I recall seeing very small kids playing up the yard, snotty noses
and all, they used to wear were a vest.

I
remember the bottom of our yard on Browning Street, there were a family
called the Waterhouses; I’m not sure if they were a coal
merchants.

My
Aunt Kate and Uncle Len lived across the road from us, which was a bit
further down from French’s, where mom worked. There used to be a sweet
shop there called Perry’s; I also remember other families from
Browning Street, they were the Eden’s; I remember their daughter Pat,
and the Waldrens, and Mrs. Edkins, think that were her name.

Struggling
now Mac to remember, I will be coming up to 65 this year, so as I say
its going back some, I have a couple of pictures I will get my daughter
to email them.

I
love your page Mac, not sure if you remember me, I came a couple of
years back to the British Legion in Harborne when you were there.

Group
photo is my granddad holding my mom (Carole Thacker, nee Hart) around 2 years
old

and
my Nan is the only lady in the picture on the right hand side.

Can
anyone recognise the pub?

Carole
Thacker

Memories
of the Dunn Family

My
family, the Dunns, lived in the Doctors surgery at 180 Monument Road
for about 6 years from 1957.

We
attended St Georges School and well remember Mr. Pillinger, the
headmaster. I also remember Mr. Fredrick and being a very naughty boy in
his class. Miss Hobbs the trainee teacher who used to take us to the
teacher training college.

Happy
days, I am unsure of the date of this photo and can only recall a few
names. Geoffrey Parkes, Michael Hickinbottom, Jonathon Green and I
believe a Carol Williams; her mother kept a greengrocers near the
junction of Ladywood Road and Monument Road ( I think)

The
twins went to Steward Street school, then on to Camden Street school,
then Ladywood Comp. We moved from Springhill Passage to Crabtree Road no
57.

Dad
worked on the Rotunda. Mom worked at Summerfield Hospital, Western Road
(our grandad was a patient in there). Mom also worked at R-WHITES in
Western Road, we used to play at the reck and also Hockley Port. I
remember going shopping on Springhill with mom and she used to give her
co-op number. I remember the elderly lady in the veg shop and the faggot
and pea shop, youngest brother used to go to the roller rink.

Mom
was born down Prescott Street (1920), she also attended Camden Street
school; dad lived in Whitmore Street, he was born 1916 (warwick); my
grandparents, on my moms side, came from Aston. Nan also went to Camden
Street school, so did mom's 2 sister's.

Memories
of the Gebhard Family

We
lived at 35 Shakespeare Road from early 1960 to 1964, the front door led
directly to the pavement (but actually we always used the side door in
the entry) the house was right opposite the "Commercial" Pub
(though my dad's local was the "Beehive" - was one M
&B and the other Ansells?)

In 1964, when my dad Roy GEBHARD and mum Cynthia
(nee PRITCHARD) decided to move to Lichfield on the overspill scheme the
neighbours that I can recall were the BAGGLEY family (on the back of our
house, so 1 back of 35); the KNOWLES family at the top of the yard (so 2
back of 35) and at the rear of the house next to us the DAVIES family (1
back of 33 or 37 - I can't recall which way the numbers ran).

In the same year in Shakespeare Road:- at number
14 was Beatrice WHITWORTH Shopkeeper, at number 26, W.
HENNESSEY Bookmaker, at number 80, Bill Lowndes Shopkeeper, at number 85,
J. W. Timms Newsagent and at number 81, Mrs. R. COLEMAN Shopkeeper.

Main activities for a young lad were anything that
was free! Playing football, trainspotting, playing "war" on
the bombsites on Monument Road, going to the Science Museum; any money
we did have was spent at the pictures on a Saturday morning (the "Edgbaston"
by the Ivy Bush), going "all the way round" on the inner
circle on a Sunday if it was raining so as to pass some time and occasionally
going to Villa Park.

Never ever felt that we were poorly off or under privileged,
probably because everybody else was in the same boat!

Cheers

Paul
Gebhard

26th
January 2008

Memories
of the Nash Family

This
is a photo of my Dad, aged about 19, with my Mum, Teresa Murphy

My
Dad Fred Nash was born eldest of 11 children at 10 back of 50,
Browning Street, his parents were Fred & Amelia (Meel) Nash.
Amelia used to work at Mysto works in Browning Street.

My
Grandad Fred was born at 4 back of 50 Browning Street; my Nan Amelia was
born to Matthew & Amelia (nee Brindley) Adkins who lived at 3
back of 133 St Vincent Street.

My
Dad Fred was born in 1939 and went to school at St Barnabas,
and later worked at Bellis & Morcom.

He said that the alleyway that led up the back of Browning Street was
nicknamed "Rose Alley”!

Hi,
I was Irene Higgins and lived at 298 St. Vincent Street. I attended the
Oratory R.C. School, all of my 10 years at school.

St.
Vincent Street was friendly and I have so many memories, there was
a off-licence on the corner and across the road 3 shops; the 1st was a
grocery shop owned by Don Andrews a tall man, in the corner of the shop
was a chair to sit and wait to be served; next the greengrocers, run by
the Truemans; then the sweet shop.

On
the corner of St. Vincent Street and Ladywood Road was the butcher, I
remember a whole shoulder of lamb was 9 shillings and sixpence (45p).

Ladywood
Park was a favourite with the slide swings and roundabouts life was so
safe and secure then.

I
hope this is the kind of thing that will bring old Ladywood to life
again.